Examining the Relationship Between Language- and Ethnic-Minority Students and Their Perceptions of Teaching

• In Event: Roundtable Session 46
  In Roundtable Session: Topics on English Language Learners

Abstract

In different learning environments, language and ethnic minority students may perceive the work and quality of teaching differently. These perceptions can create challenges in assessing teaching effectiveness and if not accounted for, may threaten the reliability and validity of interpretations of such assessments. This study explored possible differences in responses to the Tripod survey from Year 1 of the Measures of Effective Teaching study between ELL and non-ELL students from different ethnicity groups and content classes. Mean score scale differences were computed and Differential Item Functioning was assessed using the Ordinal Logistic Regression method. The item responses showed great consistency as just two items displayed positive interactions between group membership and mean score and only among elementary school students.

Authors

• Jonathan Steinberg, Educational Testing Service

• Sultan Turkan, ETS

• Steven L. Holtzman, ETS