Validation of the Teacher Identity for Medical Faculty Members Scale (Short Version)

Quality of the provided educational services to medical students is one of the main concerns of the authorities of the medical education system. Currently, there are theoretical and methodological ambiguities regarding the definition, conceptualization, and determining the factors involved in the concept of the teacher identity in physicians. Most of these challenges are due to the lack of proper, time-consuming measurement tools. Developing valid and reliable measurement tools is an important step toward effective medical education. The present study aimed to develop and validate the teacher identity for medical faculty members scale (short version). This descriptive, correlational study was conducted on 156 professors of medical universities, who were selected via multistage cluster sampling. Heuristic, validation, and confirmatory analyses were performed using the method of partial least squares, including the evaluation of measurement models (Cronbach’s alpha, factor loading coefficients, composite reliability, convergent and divergent validity), fitness of the structural model (significance of path coefficients, coefficients of determination, model prediction, goodness of fit index). The final tool had 20 items in four dimensions of educational domain, teaching and learning, perceptions toward medical education, and professional development. The results of heuristic and confirmatory analyses indicated the appropriateness and acceptability of the underlying structure of the indices and factors. According to the results, the teacher identity for medical faculty members scale (short version) has proper construct validity and reliability to be used for the assessment and identification of the strengths and weaknesses of teacher identity in physicians and develop medical education