Scale Development and Validation for Assessing University Faculty’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Special Education

Abstract

This study aims to develop and validate a scale to assess university faculty’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices in special education. A total of 210 faculty members in Taiwan participated in this study. The proposed Faculty Perspectives on Special Education Scale (FPSES), a 32-item scale, includes three subscales: Special Education Knowledge (SEK), Attitudes Towards Students (ATS), and Provision of Services (POS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, item analysis, correlation analysis, t tests, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results showed that FPSES has satisfactory internal consistency reliability, with Cronbach’s α ranging from .93 to .96 and test-retest reliabilities, with coefficient ranging from .88 to .96. The FPSES also exhibited favorable content validity. Furthermore, the CFA confirmed a good fit between the proposed model and the sample data, thereby ensuring the construct validity. In summary, FPSES is a favorable assessment tool with good psychometric properties, which provides insights into faculty perspectives, attitudes, and practices in the provision of special education services for university students with disabilities.