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Learning Objective 1: discuss the importance of content validity in the construction of an instrument for nurses’ attitudes towards e-mentoring in nursing.
Learning Objective 2: describe the methodology to determine the internal consistency reliability for an instrument measuring nurses’ attitudes towards e-mentoring in nursing.
Method: E-mentoring literature and scale technique choices were reviewed. Given that attitudes was a variable of interest, the semantic differential was chosen as the scale. A total of 53 opposite adjective pairs, and 4 categories, describing e-mentoring concepts were analyzed by content experts. Following the calculation of a Content Validity Index, a pilot study occurred to measure the internal consistency of the NATE instrument. Included in this pilot study was a demographic questionnaire. Following approval from a mid-sized university's Institutional Review Board, the 2-part survey was posted on the Internet through software that supports Web-based surveys.
Findings: Eight content experts were contacted to evaluate a list of 53 opposite adjective pairs and 4 subcategories. Based on five content experts’ recommendations, the NATE instrument included 32 items with a CVI of .80. Additionally, the NATE instrument was considered univocal. Three of the content experts did not respond to the request to evaluate the original 53 opposite adjective pairs and 4 subcategories. Over a period of 4 weeks, a convenience sample of 21 RNs was accessed from a graduate nursing program at a mid-sized university in the Philadelphia area and through networking. There was a 16-item demographic questionnaire included in the NATE survey. Demographic items included age, education, experience, place of residence, and mentoring experience. The demographic questionnaire was placed after the NATE instrument to support social exchange principles. The Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency reliability from this study was .94.
Conclusions: With N = 21, the NATE instrument’s CVI was .80, and Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency reliability was .94. Thus, a new and reliable instrument was developed to measure nurses’ attitudes towards e-mentoring.