Research Article

Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory

Volume: 9 Number: 3 September 20, 2026
TR EN

Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory

Abstract

This study presents the Turkish adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale (MTSE), derived from the Personal Mathematics Teaching Efficacy (PMTE) subscale of the Mathematics Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Instrument (MTEBI; Enochs et al., 2000). A total of 434 preservice teachers (female = 326, 75.1%; male = 108, 24.9%) from three state universities participated during the 2025-2026 academic year. Forward–backward translation and expert panel review were employed. Psychometric properties were examined via the Graded Response Model (GRM) within the Item Response Theory (IRT) framework, following tests of the assumptions of unidimensionality, monotonicity, and local independence. One item was removed from the 11-item draft form during these analyses. The 10-item form showed acceptable but borderline fit to a unidimensional structure (CFI = .950, TLI = .936, RMSEA = .097, SRMR = .087). The monotonicity assumption was largely satisfied: three items showed small, statistically non-significant violations, and one item showed a single significant violation of limited magnitude. GRM parameters demonstrated adequate discrimination across all items. Reliability analyses yielded Cronbach’s alpha = .798, McDonald’s omega = .805, and GRM marginal reliability = .884, indicating acceptable internal consistency. Measurement invariance tests supported metric invariance only across departments; full metric invariance was not supported across gender or year of study. Because the baseline (configural) models themselves fitted poorly, the invariance findings should be regarded as preliminary and group mean comparisons using the present form are not recommended. The Turkish MTSE provides initial evidence of acceptable internal-structure validity and reliability for assessing mathematics teaching self-efficacy among Turkish preservice teachers; evidence for criterion-related validity and test–retest reliability remains to be established.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Afyon Kocatepe University, with the decision dated 10 December 2025 and numbered 2025/33 (Document No: 12 December 2025-419693).

References

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  6. Bates, A. B., Latham, N., & Kim, J.-A. (2011). Linking pre-service teachers’ mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics teaching efficacy to their mathematical performance. School Science and Mathematics, 111(7), 325-333. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1949-8594.2011.00095.x
  7. Briley, J. S. (2012). The relationships among mathematics teaching efficacy, mathematics self-efficacy, and mathematical beliefs for elementary pre-service teachers. Issues in the Undergraduate Mathematics Preparation of School Teachers, 5, 1-13.
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Higher Education Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 20, 2026

Submission Date

May 19, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 3

APA
Özdemir, A., & Erol, R. (2026). Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory. Journal of University Research, 9(3), 309-321. https://izlik.org/JA94WT86RT
AMA
1.Özdemir A, Erol R. Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory. Journal of University Research. 2026;9(3):309-321. https://izlik.org/JA94WT86RT
Chicago
Özdemir, Atilla, and Ramazan Erol. 2026. “Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory”. Journal of University Research 9 (3): 309-21. https://izlik.org/JA94WT86RT.
EndNote
Özdemir A, Erol R (September 1, 2026) Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory. Journal of University Research 9 3 309–321.
IEEE
[1]A. Özdemir and R. Erol, “Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory”, Journal of University Research, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 309–321, Sept. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA94WT86RT
ISNAD
Özdemir, Atilla - Erol, Ramazan. “Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory”. Journal of University Research 9/3 (September 1, 2026): 309-321. https://izlik.org/JA94WT86RT.
JAMA
1.Özdemir A, Erol R. Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory. Journal of University Research. 2026;9:309–321.
MLA
Özdemir, Atilla, and Ramazan Erol. “Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory”. Journal of University Research, vol. 9, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 309-21, https://izlik.org/JA94WT86RT.
Vancouver
1.Atilla Özdemir, Ramazan Erol. Turkish Adaptation of the Mathematics Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale for Preservice Teachers in Higher Education: A Validity and Reliability Study via the Graded Response Model Based on Item Response Theory. Journal of University Research [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 1;9(3):309-21. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA94WT86RT