The Online Teaching Motivation Scale (OTMS): Development and Validation of a Survey Instrument

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to develop and validate the Online Teaching Motivation Scale (OTMS), a survey instrument designed to reliably measure motivational constructs related to online teaching and learning. The widespread prevalence of online and hybrid teaching modalities, many established during the COVID-19 pandemic, has necessitated reliable, valid measures to better understand factors that impact teachers’ motivation for online teaching and learning. The OTMS went through a rigorous validation process, including a pilot survey for content review, digital administration to K–12 teachers (N=379), and confirmatory factor analysis. The result was a 24-item survey designed to measure teacher motivation for online teaching based on three factors: teacher self-efficacy for online teaching, teacher perceptions of online teaching and learning, and perceived administrative support for online teaching. The OTMS was found to have a strong model fit, as well as strong reliability and validity measures. Future research includes wide administration of the OTMS to examine the relationship between K–12 teacher motivation for online teaching and students’ achievement and to inform the development of appropriate support models.