Assessing the Effect of Teacher Efficacy on Students' Math Achievement Using Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling

• In Event: 66.059 - Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: 66.059-2 - Mathematics in Teacher Education and Professional Development

Abstract

Teacher efficacy has considered having a positive effect on student achievement. However, there is a need to empirically test this claim. The current study analyzed TIMSS 2011 data to determine whether teacher efficacy predicted 8th grade students’ math achievement in the United Stated while controlling for students’ motivational variables and other individual characteristics such as gender and socioeconomic status. A multilevel structural equation modeling was used to correctly account for the nested nature of TIMSS dataset. Teacher efficacy showed a significant and positive effect on student achievement in the United States. The results provide insight into the effectiveness of teacher efficacy and highlight the importance of increasing teacher efficacy for enhanced students’ math achievement.

Authors

• Kyung Sun Chung, Columbia College Chicago

• ISMAEL GUILLERMO MUNOZ, The Pennsylvania State University - University Park