Measuring inspiration in educators: the Educator Inspire Scale (EIS)

ABSTRACT

In response to the absence of an instrument to measure educator inspiration with evidence of validity and reliability, the authors developed the Educator Inspire Scale (EIS), an assessment designed to assess the construct of inspiration in educators. Therefore, their investigation examined the psychometric properties of the EIS scores through a two-part study. In Study 1, they constructed and disseminated the 70-item EIS to a developmental sample (N = 763) of educators and educators-in-training. Using an exploratory factor analysis, they examined the EIS for the most parsimonious factor structure and optimal-scale length. In Study 2, they administered the reduced 19-item EIS to a validating sample (N = 1015) to establish an internal factor structure through confirmatory factor analysis. Results from both studies purport EIS scores fit a 19-item EIS, four-factor oblique measurement model with 86.4% of explained variance across factors of (a) Motivational Leadership, (b) Empathy, (c) Resilience, and (d) Passion.

KEYWORDS:

• Educator
• Educator Inspire Scale
• factor analysis
• inspiration
• teacher development

Disclosure statement

This project was supported by funds from the Sanford Inspired Higher Education Consortium.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Glenn W. Lambie

Glenn W. Lambie is a Professor of Counselor Education and serves as the Interim Dean for the College of Community Innovation and Education and The Robert N. Heintzelman Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair. Dr Lambie’s research focuses on developing psychological assessment measures, counseling-related constructs such as inspiration, and therapeutic interventions to support the functionality of children and families.

Saundra M. Tabet

Saundra M. Tabet is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at the University of San Diego. Her research focuses on promoting the socio-emotional health of intercollegiate athletes, developing psychological assessment measures, and therapeutic outcome measures in counseling.

Jaimie Stickl Haugen

Jaimie Stickl Haugen is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at St. Bonaventure University. Her research focuses on inequities in K–12 education, factors relating to suicidality in youth, and professional school counseling.