Assessing Fertility Knowledge: Development and Validation of the Male and Female Fertility Knowledge Inventories
Date
2018
Authors
Olekalns, Aleksandra
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Abstract
Infertility and involuntary childlessness remain global public health issues. Previous
research reveals poor understandings of fertility. Health behaviour change interventions, such as
those based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills Model, state that information is a
prerequisite to health behaviour change, yet previous measurement of fertility knowledge is poor,
with limitations in construct operationalisation, item generation, and theoretical and psychometric
analysis. Moreover, scales do not differentiate between male and female infertility risks. This
research aimed to develop two psychometrically sound scales specific to measuring knowledge
about male and female fertility using Classical Test Theory and established scale development
protocol. A three-stage approach was adopted, where analysis and refinement of scale items
occurred sequentially in three groups including fertility health professionals (n=8), laypeople
(n=13), and people of reproductive age (n=226). From the original 36 items in each item pool,
following data analysis, results yielded a 14-item, three-factor solution for the Male Fertility
Knowledge Inventory (MFKI) and a 15-item, four-factor solution Female Fertility Knowledge
Inventory (FFKI). The MFKI and FFKI had acceptable internal consistency (𝛼 = .78, 𝛼 =
.77, respectively) and partial support for concurrent validity. Convergent and divergent validity
were not supported; future research should determine constructs that are appropriate to further
validate these scales. While the scales may undergo further refinement in the future, their
development allows researchers to measure knowledge of male and female fertility separately
and to determine their importance in fertility decision-making. The scales may be used in clinical
practice as screening tools to identify people at risk of infertility and involuntary childlessness.
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (B.PsychSc(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2018
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