A psychometric evaluation of the Ethical Leadership Scale using Rasch analysis and confirmatory factor analysis

The purpose of the study was to psychometrically characterize the Ethical Leadership Scale (ELS) through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch analysis. Data were collected from 469 teachers across several countries. The one-factor structure of the ELS was confirmed in CFA. Rating scale diagnosis, item fit assessment, reliability analysis, unidimensionality, local independence, and differential item functioning (DIF) analyses were conducted using the Rasch Rating Scale Model. Item and rating scale analyses indicated that the ten items and five-category scale performed as intended. High person separation and reliability statistics supported the consistency of the ELS scores. Only one item (Item 4) demonstrated misfit in the Rasch model and two items (i.e., Items 2 and 10) showed DIF across Turkish and European respondents. None of the items showed DIF across gender. Overall CFA and Rasch models provided evidence for the psychometric quality of the 10-item ELS. However, reassessment of the scale after removing Item 4 showed improvement in the psychometric properties of the scale.