Brief Description

The Test Concerning Abilities for Study and Examinations (TASTE) is a self-report questionnaire originally developed by Depreeuw, Eelen, and Stroobants in Belgium and adapted for Greek populations as the Ερωτηματολόγιο Ικανοτήτων Μελέτης και Εξετάσεων (ΕΙΜΕ). It includes 56 items and assesses five distinct dimensions related to studying and exam performance: anxiety–psychosomatic symptoms, procrastination, negative evaluation of personal abilities, perception of anxiety, and commitment to studying. Its purpose is to capture students’ study skills, difficulties, and psychological states experienced during academic and exam periods.

Purpose

The TASTE aims to evaluate skills and psychological factors associated with study effectiveness and academic success. It seeks to enhance understanding of the elements that influence university performance and to help identify students who may benefit from support or intervention.

Scoring Method

Scoring is based on a five-point Likert scale (1 to 5) for all items, with participants indicating their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement. The five subscales are scored by combining responses from the corresponding items.

Validity

The structure of the Greek adaptation closely mirrors that of the original Belgian questionnaire, supporting its conceptual validity. The tool has been validated through research and statistical analysis and is considered appropriate for use with university student populations.

Reliability

The internal consistency of the five subscales, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha, ranges from 0.65 to 0.86. These values indicate satisfactory to very good reliability, ensuring repeatability and stability of the measurements.

Data Analysis and Use

For its cultural and linguistic adaptation, the Greek version of the questionnaire was administered to a sample of 556 students from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Athens, with a mean age of 21.4 years. The data supported the factor structure and allowed for meaningful conclusions regarding students’ difficulties with studying and exams. The instrument is suitable for use in counseling settings, educational institutions, and research applications.

References

Depreeuw, E., Eelen, P., & Stroobants, R. (1990). Test concerning Abilities for Study and Examinations (TASTE). University of Leuven Counseling Centre, Belgium.
Kalantzi-Azizi, A., & Karademas, E. Ch. (1997). Evaluation of students’ study abilities: Adaptation of the TASTE questionnaire into Greek and its cross-cultural assessment. Psychologia, 4, 1–12.