Teacher Reporting Attitudes Scale (TRAS): confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses with a Malaysian sample

Area of Science:

• Child Protection Studies
• Educational Psychology
• Psychometric Validation

Background:

• The Teacher Reporting Attitude Scale (TRAS) is crucial for understanding teachers' willingness to report child abuse and neglect.
• Validating cross-cultural versions of assessment tools is essential for accurate global research.
• Previous factor structures of the TRAS may not be universally applicable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the short form Malay version of the TRAS.
• To adapt and validate a tool for assessing teachers' attitudes toward reporting child abuse in a Malaysian context.
• To evaluate the reliability and appropriateness of a modified TRAS for non-Western teachers.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey utilizing a self-report questionnaire was administered to 667 teachers in Selangor, Malaysia.
• A three-stage analysis process involving exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses was employed.
• Psychometric properties, including reliability estimates for the identified factors, were assessed.

Main Results:

• The original 3-factor model of the TRAS was not supported in the Malay sample.
• An 8-item, 4-factor structure (commitment, value, concern, confidence) was identified through exploratory factor analysis.
• Confirmatory factor analysis supported the appropriateness of the 4-factor structure, with moderate reliability estimates.

Conclusions:

• The modified short form Malay version of the TRAS is a potentially useful tool for assessing teachers' attitudes toward reporting child abuse and neglect.
• The findings suggest that cross-cultural differences in reporting attitudes may exist.
• Further evaluation of the instrument's transferability to diverse populations is recommended.