Psychometric Evaluation of a Creative Thinking Performance Test for Science Education

Creative thinking is a core competence in science education to address complex environmental, technological, and societal challenges. However, because students' performance is still insufficient, a valid and reliable evaluation instrument is needed to design effective learning strategies. The Creative Thinking Performance Test (CTPT) instrument was developed through stages ranging from the preparation of a blueprint based on four dimensions of creative thinking (sensitivity, flexibility, novelty, and elaboration), construction of essay items, expert validation using the Delphi technique, pilot tests, and psychometric analysis using Rasch, EFA, and CFA to test validity and reliability. The study involved 138 elementary school teacher education students with diverse characteristics, so the results provide a basis for measuring performance-based creative thinking skills in the context of science learning. The study results indicated variations in students' creative thinking skills based on demographic and academic factors. At the same time, EFA, CFA, and Rasch analysis confirmed that the instrument was valid, reliable, and effective in measuring the four dimensions of creative thinking skills in the context of science learning. The study introduces the CTPT, valid, reliable, and relevant in measuring the four dimensions of creative thinking skills in science learning. It emphasizes the importance of performance assessment as a complement to the tests used by lecturers in assessing students' creative thinking skills. The CTPT provides lecturers and science educators with a performance-based instrument to assess and improve creative thinking in natural science learning contexts.