Compilation, Normalization and Validation of the questionnaire of Ineffective Behaviors of Universities Professors

Abstract

Purpose: One of the important issues in the higher education system is the ineffective behavior of university professors, which has received less attention and no comprehensive objective criteria has been designed to investigate it. The purpose of this study was to compile and validate a questionnaire to investigate the ineffective behaviors of university professors. Methodology: This was a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population included faculty members of five universities in Tehran (Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Kharazmi, Allameh Tabatabai and Tarbiat Modares (in the academic year of 2019-2020. The research sample consisted of 123 teaching professors, who were selected by the purpose-based available sampling method. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire of university professors' ineffective behaviors with 64 items in three factors; educational (3 components), research (4 components) and communication (5 components). The data were analyzed with the methods of content validity ratio, content validity index and exploratory factor analysis in SPSS and Smart-PLS software. Finding: The content validity ratio and content validity index for all three educational, research and communication factors and their components were above 0.80. The exploratory factor analysis of ineffective behaviors of university professors showed three factors, educational factor with 3 components, research factor with 4 components and communication factor with 5 components. A factor loading higher than 0.60, and Cronbach's and combined reliability higher than 0.70 were calculated. The calculated R2 for all factors and components was higher than 0.50 and the GOF index equal to 0.43 indicated the appropriate fit of the model. The model of inefficient behaviors was drawn in the modes of factor loading and t-test, based on which the inefficient behaviors of university professors had a significant effect on educational, research and communication factors and their components due to the t-statistic higher than 1.96. Conclusion: The questionnaire of the current research is a valid and reliable tool for measuring the ineffective behaviors of university professors. University administrators can use it to measure the level of ineffective behavior of professors under their supervision to design preventive or improvement programs.