Construction and validation of a questionnaire to measure the commitment towards attention to diversity of teaching staff in Basic Vocational Training (COMAD)

Abstract

Introduction. Basic Vocational Training (BVT) students are characterised by having training needs which transcend the educational field. Many of them are young people at risk of educational and social exclusion. To care properly for the students, a positive attitude from the teaching staff towards attention to diversity (AD) is desirable. Having reviewed the literature on the subject, it is revealed that there is no questionnaire to carry out a measurement of teaching staff’s commitment to AD in this educational stage. The aim of this article is to design and validate a questionnaire to allow the measurement of said commitment and the main dimensions making up the same. Method. This questionnaire covers a manifest need, evaluating 4 key dimensions and 19 key indicators the enable the measurement of the commitment of the teaching staff in responding to the heterogeneous nature of the students and their possible deficiencies and, as a consequence, to have an effect on the improvement of educational success of BVT students. After collecting the information regarding 218 teachers (53.69% of the total BVT teaching staff in the Basque Country), and analysing the data following the Classical Test Theory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis plan, the results indicate that COMAD is a valid and reliable instrument for this purpose. Also, it is shown that the fundamental dimensions which help to improve this construct are as follows: evaluation of cooperative work in the classroom, interaction with diverse educational and social agents, evaluation of the professional task, support of colleagues, coordination within the school and, lastly, individualised school resources regarding AD. Discussion. An appeal is made to the Basque Educational Government to provide AD skills training for BVT teachers.