Teacher receptivity to a system-wide change in a centralized education system: a Rasch measurement model analysis.

Abstract

The Education Department of Western Australia has implemented a new system called Student Outcome Statements, by trial in 1995/1996, then an a voluntary basis from 1997, with the intention of making it mandatory after 2001. The system describes, in order, the outcomes that students are expected to achieve in eight broad learning areas. The study has three aims. One, to create a scale for teacher receptivity to the use of Student Outcome Statements, based on eight orientations to receptivity: evaluative attitudes, behavior intentions, feelings towards Student Outcome Statements compared to the previous system, the benefits of the new system, support from significant others, alleviation of concerns, collaboration with other teachers, and involvement in decision-making. Two, to analyze the psychometric properties of the scale using the Extended Logistic Model of Rasch (Andrich, 1988; Rasch, 1960/1980) with the computer program RUMM (Andrich, Sheridan & Luo, 1997). Three, to provide advice to decision-makers about how better to implement the system of Student Outcome Statements.