Teacher Reporting Attitudes Scale (TRAS): confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses with a Malaysian sample.
The Teacher Reporting Attitude Scale (TRAS) is a newly developed tool to assess teachers' attitudes toward reporting child abuse and neglect. This article reports on an investigation of the factor structure and psychometric properties of the short form Malay version of the TRAS. A self-report cross-sectional survey was conducted with 667 teachers in 14 randomly selected schools in Selangor state, Malaysia. Analyses were conducted in a 3-stage process using both confirmatory (stages 1 and 3) and exploratory factor analyses (stage 2) to test, modify, and confirm the underlying factor structure of the TRAS in a non-Western teacher sample. Confirmatory factor analysis did not support a 3-factor model previously reported in the original TRAS study. Exploratory factor analysis revealed an 8-item, 4-factor structure. Further confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated appropriateness of the 4-factor structure. Reliability estimates for the four factors-commitment, value, concern, and confidence-were moderate. The modified short form TRAS (Malay version) has potential to be used as a simple tool for relatively quick assessment of teachers' attitudes toward reporting child abuse and neglect. Cross-cultural differences in attitudes toward reporting may exist and the transferability of newly developed instruments to other populations should be evaluated.
University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ccwy@ummc.edu.my
Wan Yuen
WY
Choo
Kerryann
K
Walsh
Karuthan
K
Chinna
Nai Peng
NP
Tey
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires