Validation of an Instrument to Measure the Feedback Conceptions Scale

Abstract

It is very important to check for validity and reliability of self-report scales or measures. This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of an instrument which is adapted from Harris and Brown (2008) known as ‘Teachers' Conceptions of Feedback (TCoF) inventory’. The instrument consists of 37 items from 9 constructs namely irrelevance, improvement, accountability, encouragement and self-type, task, process, self-regulation, peer and self-assessment and timeliness. One hundred and eighty-five (N=185) undergraduate students who are also the student teachers had completed the questionnaire. Respondents used a six-point agreement rating scale coded as strongly disagree=1, mostly disagree=2, slightly agree=3, moderately agree=4, mostly agree=5 and strongly agree=6. The content was validated by three experts in the field of measurement and evaluation. Data analysis was completed using the Rasch measurement model. The findings revealed that most items fit the model as their MNSQ values are between 0.50 and 1.50 except for the three items. Only two items showed a negative point measure correlation indicated that overall, the item discrimination is good. Item reliability and item separation is 0.98 and 7.29 respectively, while person reliability and person separation is 0.89 and 2.81 respectively. In total, four items were deleted altogether. The statistical analysis provides strong evidence to support the validity and reliability of the scale. Therefore, this instrument could be adapted or adopted by other researchers in the Malaysian educational context. Implications of the study is also discussed.