Establishing Factorial Validity of the Mathematics Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Instrument

Abstract

The Mathematics Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (MTEBI) for preservice teachers resulted from the modification of the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument STEBI‐B. The MTEBI consists of 21 items, 13 items on the Personal Mathematics Teaching Efficacy (PMTE) subscale and eight items on the Mathematics Teaching Outcome Expectancy (MTOE) subscale. Possible scores on the PMTE scale range from 13 to 65; MTOE scores may range from 8 to 40. The first version of the MTEBI had 23 items like the STEBI‐B; however, subsequent analysis in this validation required two items be dropped. Reliability analysis produced an alpha coefficient of 0.88 for the PMTE scale and an alpha coefficient of 0. 75 for the MTOE scale (n = 324). Confirmatory factor analysis indicates that the two scales (PMTE and MTOE) are independent, adding to the construct validity of the MTEBI.