Initial testing of an instrument to measure teacher identity in physicians
Starr, Susan ; Haley, Heather-Lyn ; Mazor, Kathleen M. ; Ferguson, Warren J. ; Philbin, Mary ; Quirk, Mark E.
Citations
Student Authors
Faculty Advisor
Academic Program
Document Type
Publication Date
Subject Area
Embargo Expiration Date
Link to Full Text
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A previous study described 7 elements of teacher identity: intrinsic satisfaction from teaching, knowledge and skill about teaching, belonging to a community of teachers, receiving rewards for teaching, believing that being a doctor means being a teacher, feeling a responsibility to teach, and sharing clinical expertise.
PURPOSE: To conduct the initial testing of an instrument to measure the 7 elements of teacher identity in clinical educators and to consider the potential applications of such an instrument.
METHODS: A 37-item questionnaire was mailed to 153 preceptors of preclinical students. Categories reflected the elements of teacher identity listed here. Demographic data were collected. Means, alphas, ANOVAs, and paired t tests were calculated.
RESULTS: Of 153 preceptors, 127 (83%) completed the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha for the overall scale and several subscales were high. Salaried physicians and those who had completed a faculty development program scored significantly higher on several subscales than physicians who volunteered to teach or who did not have faculty development.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence that teacher identity can be measured and that preceptors do not respond as a homogeneous group. Assessing teacher identity may be helpful to medical schools looking to identify and support physicians who teach.
Source
Starr S, Haley H-L, Mazor KM, Philbin M, Ferguson WJ, Quirk M. Development and testing of an instrument to measure teacher identity in physicians. Teaching and Learning in Medicine 2006;18:117-25. DOI: 10.1207/s15328015tlm1802_5