Developing a Measure of Teachers' Multicultural Dispositions

• In Event: Developing Preservice Teacher Understanding of Diversity

Abstract

Claims abound in the research literature regarding the definition, significance, and effects of multicultural teacher dispositions. Currently, however, there is no single measure of multicultural teacher dispositions that captures conceptually rich constructs and demonstrates strong psychometric properties. In this paper we discuss the iterative development of the Multicultural Teacher Dispositions Scale (MTDS), which comprises 22 items to capture three dispositions/factors: Meekness, Social Awareness, and Advocacy. We gather responses from 422 pre-service teachers in three samples and analytic phases, and share factor and item analytic results from the final phase. Results demonstrate strong model fit for Meekness, though moderate fit for Social Awareness and Advocacy. We discuss implications for MTDS refinement, and eventual use for research and practice improvement.

Authors

• Bryant Jensen, Brigham Young University

• Erin Feinauer Whiting, Brigham Young University

• Sara Bernice Chapman, University of Missouri - Columbia