A Three-Wave Validation of A Tool Measuring Teacher Identity

Abstract

Teacher identity has received recent attention, yet instruments assessing it lack in agreed constructs and repeated reliabilities. The present study thus accommodated the need for a comprehensive and replicable measure of teacher identity. A teacher identity inventory (TII) was constructed entailing three core components (teacher self-efficacy, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction). To validate it, three independent samples partook in three waves of study. Study 1 ( N=236 year-3 prospective teachers) generated a three-factor structure entailing seven scales through an exploratory analysis. Study 2 (N=1,102 year-4 prospective teachers) cross-validated the factor structure between a calibration sample (N=539) and a validation sample (N=563). A 34-item factor structure was finalized. Study 3 ( N=232 beginning teachers) tested and verified the utility of the TII by examining how it was correlated with and regressed on the Job Demands-Resources Inventory (JD-RI). Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.