The Equity Scenario Response Scale: Measuring Preservice Teachers' Equity Knowledge and Skills

• In Event: Evaluating Equity-Oriented Pedagogies in Teacher Education: Examining Candidates' Response to Social Justice Cases and Classroom Dilemmas

Abstract

Scholars have explored constructs (knowledge, skills, beliefs) underlying preservice and inservice teachers’ social justice competencies. Though valid scales exist for measuring equity-related beliefs, our efforts have failed to unearth any measurement tool that psychometrically accounts for equity-related skills and knowledge. The Equity Scenario Response (ESR) Scale was developed to measure preservice teachers’ equity knowledge and skills. Participants use a Likert Scale and respond to open-ended questions about problematic equity-based scenarios, which the researchers authentically captured during field observations. Using data from two experimental studies (N=237), researchers examined the ESR scale’s psychometric properties. Findings show the scale measured the intended constructs, thus the ESR is a valid instrument to measure preservice teachers’ equity skills and knowledge.

Authors

• Nicholas Steven Bell, University of Delaware

• Diane Codding, Northwestern University