Publications & Resources

Validating Measures of Algebra Teacher Subject Matter Knowledge and Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Sep 2012

Rebecca E. Buschang, Gregory K. W. K. Chung, Girlie C. Delacruz, and Eva L. Baker

The purpose of this study was to validate inferences about scores of one task designed to measure subject matter knowledge and three tasks designed to measure aspects of pedagogical content knowledge. Evidence for the validity of inferences was based on two expectations. First, if tasks were sensitive to expertise, we would find group differences. Second, tasks that measured similar types of knowledge would correlate strongly, and tasks that measured different types of knowledge would correlate weakly. Results indicate one task differentiated among levels of expertise and measured several aspects of knowledge needed to teach algebra. Results also highlight that future studies should use a combination of tasks to accurately measure different aspects of teacher knowledge.

Buschang, R. E., Chung, G. K. W. K., Delacruz, G. C., & Baker, E. L. (2012). Validating measures of algebra teacher subject matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge (CRESST Report 820). Los Angeles: University of California, Los Angeles, National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST).