Validation of a scale to evaluate research competencies in elementary and middle school teachers in the Colombian context

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to show the design and validation of a measurement diagnostic scale to identify competencies in knowledge and investigative skills in elementary and middle school teachers in the Colombian context. The instrument was developed under a quantitative approach, in four stages: first, through a review of the literature on the construct, knowledge and research skills were identified and then operationally defined. The instrument items were Liker type with five (5) alternative responses, 3 dimensions (identification and organization of information, generation and dissemination of scientific knowledge) for a total of 31 items. A pilot study, a semantic and content validation by expert judgment was carried out and its reliability was measured using the internal consistency method. The final stage consisted of evaluating the research skills in a sample of 32 teachers. The correlations between factors of the instrument show a relationship and dependence between them, indicating the validity of the questionnaire.