Validation of a Model for Reducing Primary School Teacher Attrition: A Mixed-Methods Study
Keywords:
Primary school teachers, Teacher attrition, Model validationAbstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to validate a comprehensive model for reducing primary school teacher attrition using a mixed-methods approach.
Methodology: This applied study employed an exploratory mixed-methods design consisting of qualitative and quantitative phases. In the qualitative phase, thematic analysis was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 32 academic and educational experts in Tehran Province until theoretical saturation was achieved. In the quantitative phase, a cross-sectional survey design was used, and the statistical population included 43,144 primary school teachers, principals, and counselors, from which 384 participants were selected through proportional stratified random sampling. Data collection in the quantitative phase was performed using a researcher-developed questionnaire with 92 items based on a Likert scale. Qualitative data trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability, while quantitative validity was assessed via face and content validity, and reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha. Data were analyzed using thematic coding in the qualitative phase and confirmatory factor analysis in the quantitative phase.
Findings: Thematic analysis revealed that the model comprised five overarching themes (individual, job-related, organizational–structural, cultural–process, and environmental factors), 18 organizing themes, and 92 basic themes. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that all factor loadings exceeded 0.40 and were statistically significant at the 0.05 level (|t|>1.96). Model fit indices, including RMSEA (<0.08) and CFI, IFI, and GFI (>0.90), demonstrated an acceptable model fit. These results confirm the construct validity and explanatory power of the proposed model in predicting teacher attrition reduction.
Conclusion: The proposed model demonstrated satisfactory validity and goodness of fit and can effectively explain and predict the factors influencing the reduction of primary school teacher attrition; therefore, it can serve as a robust framework for human resource policymaking in primary education systems.
Downloads
References
Aburumman, O., Salleh, A., Omar, K., & Abadi, M. (2020). The Impact of Human Resource Management Practices and Career Satisfaction on Employee's Turnover Intention. Management Science Letters, 10, 641-652. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2019.9.015
Afkhami Ardakani, M., & Farahi, R. (2012). Culture, Organizational Commitment and Intention to Leave of Knowledge Workers: Designing and Presenting a Model in RIPI. Iranian journal of management sciences, 6(24), 1-24.
Aghajanpoor Chahardeh, F., & Rezaee Kelidbari, H. (2014). The Role of Leader-Member Exchange on Employee Turnover Intention of Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch. Iranian journal of management sciences, 9(36), 101-120.
Ajala, E. (2016). Perceived Correlation between Organizational Justice and Employees' Organizational Citizenship Behaviors in the Civil Service of Ondo and Oyo State, Nigeria. IFE Psychologia: An International Journal, 24(1), 1-11.
Alaei, F., Ahghar, G., & Fathi Vernosfaderani, L. (2024). Identification and Explanation of Organizational Health Dimensions and Components among Middle School Teachers in Tehran. iase-idje, 7(2), 36-42. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.ijes.7.2.5
Arnold, B., & Rahimi, M. (2025). Teachers' Working Conditions, Wellbeing and Retention: An Exploratory Analysis to Identify the Key Factors Associated with Teachers' Intention to Leave. The Australian Educational Researcher. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-024-00794-1
Aulia, N., & Haerani, I. (2022). Teacher Retention and Turnover: Exploring the Factors That Influence Teacher Decision-Making. Journal of Education Review Provision, 2(2), 36-42. https://doi.org/10.55885/jerp.v2i2.155
Bussin, M., & Brigman, N. (2019). Evaluation of Remuneration Preferences of Knowledge Workers. Sa Journal of Human Resource Management, 17(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v17i0.1075
Bustillo, J. C. M. (2025). Optimization-Based Techniques Prediction Model in Determining Employee Turnover 4th International Conference on Evolutionary Computing and Mobile Sustainable Networks,
Campbell, J. W., Im, T., & Jeong, J. (2014). Internal Efficiency and Turnover Intention: Evidence From Local Government in South Korea. Public Personnel Management, 43(2), 259-282. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091026014524540
Christian, J. S., & Ellis, A. P. J. (2014). The Crucial Role of Turnover Intentions in Transforming Moral Disengagement into Deviant Behavior at Work. Journal of Business Ethics, 119(2), 193-208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1631-4
Domurath, A., Taggar, S., & Patzelt, H. (2023). A Contingency Model of Employees' Turnover Intent in Young Ventures. Small Business Economics, 60, 901-927. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-022-00629-2
Farahmandpour, Z., & Voelkel, R. (2025). Teacher Turnover Factors and School-Level Influences: A Meta-Analysis of the Literature. Education Sciences, 15(2), 219. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020219
Hofhuis, J., Vander Zee, K. I., & Otten, S. (2014). Comparing Antecedents of Voluntary Job Turnover Among Majority and Minority Employees. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 33(8), 735-749. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-09-2013-0071
Johannes Masenya, J. M., Ngoepe, M., & Jiyane, V. (2020). Determinants of Turnover Intentions of Librarians at the City of Johannesburg Libraries in Gauteng Province, South Africa. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 86(1), 73-83. https://doi.org/10.7553/86-1-1890
Kanuto, A. E. (2024). Identifying Patterns and Predicting Employee Turnover Using Machine Learning Approaches. International Journal of Science and Business, 36(1), 20-35. https://doi.org/10.58970/IJSB.2373
Keshtkar, F., & Shirzadi, Z. (2024). Investigating the relationship between self-efficacy and job satisfaction of employees and teachers in the Education Department of Gerash city. The 1st International Conference on Applied Studies in Educational Processes, Bandar Abbas.
Khanifar, H., Naderi Beni, N., Ebrahimi, S., Fayazi, M., & Rahmati, M. (2019). Identify the Competency of Schoolmasters for Use in the Assessment Center. Journal of School administration, 7(1), 105-125.
Lin, W., & Deng, M. (2019). Turnover Intention Predictors Among Social Workers in China. Asian Social Work and Policy Review, 13(1), 117-123. https://doi.org/10.1111/aswp.12161
Malyon, L. (2019). The Role of Justice on Perceptions of Affirmative Action, Affective Commitment and Intention to Quit University of the Western Cape]. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/7145
Moḥseni Sarbandī, H., Āfarinesh Khākī, A., Zargar, T., Shahbāzī, M., & Āzādfadā, S. (2024). Designing a Mentoring Model to Improve the Job Performance of Physical Education Teachers. Research in Physical Education and Sport Quarterly, 11(33), 173-188.
Moran, A., Orly, L., & Miriam, S. (2025). Professional Commitment and Turnover Intentions of Elementary School Teachers During Educational Crisis. Frontiers in Education, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1548359
Mxenge, S., Dywili, M., & Bazana, S. (2014). Job Engagement and Employees' Intention to Quit Among Administrative Personnel at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa. International Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 4(5), 129-144.
Nadi, M., & Shojaee, M. (2019). Relationship Between Perception of Bullying in the Workplace, Job Self-Alienation, Organizational Support With the Intention to Leave Work and the Role of Mediator of Forced Citizenship Behavior. Journal of Applied Sociology, 30(1), 167-188.
Nahas, T., Abd-El-Salam, E. M., & Shawky, A. Y. (2013). The Impact of Leadership Behaviour and Organisational Culture on Job Satisfaction and Its Relationship Among Organisational Commitment and Turnover Intentions: A Case Study on an Egyptian Company. Journal of Business and Retail Management Research, 7(2), 1-43.
Oh, J. (2020). Employee Perceptions of HRM Practices and Their Turnover Intentions: Evidence From South Korea. Journal of Evidence-based HRM, 3, 145-160. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBHRM-04-2019-0037
Park, J., Feng, Y., & Jeong, S. P. (2024). Developing an Advanced Prediction Model for New Employee Turnover Intention Utilizing Machine Learning Techniques. Scientific reports, 14, 1221. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50593-4
Rahman, W., & Nas, Z. (2013). Employee Development and Turnover Intention: Theory Validation. European Journal of Training and Development, 37(6), 564-579. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-May-2012-0015
Ready, D. A., & Conger, J. A. (2017). Make Your Company a Talent Factory. Harvard business review, 69-77.
Rezaei, N. S., Chenāri, A., & Afkaneh, S. (2024). Identifying the Dimensions and Components of Teachers' Educational Performance Based on Job Enthusiasm and Professional Competency Using Grounded Theory. Quarterly Journal of Sociology of Education, 10(3), 193-206. https://www.sid.ir/paper/1496211/en
Rizwan, M., Arshad, M. Q., Munir, H. M. A., Iqbal, F., & Hussain, A. (2014). Determinants of Employees Intention to Leave: A Study From Pakistan. International Journal of Human Resource Studies, 4(3), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijhrs.v4i3.5871
Shafique, M., Fatima, M., & Shafique, A. (2025). Employee Turnover Models: A Review of Conventional and Contemporary Approaches and Future Research Direction. Leadership and Organizational Behavior Journal, 4(1), 42-60.
Shareef, R. A., & Atan, T. (2019). The Influence of Ethical Leadership on Academic Employees' Organizational Citizenship Behavior and Turnover Intention: Mediating Role of Intrinsic Motivation. Management Decision, 57(3), 583-605. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-08-2017-0721
Sudrajat, J., Loke, S. H., Syafwandi, Bahri, E. S., & Permana, I. A. (2022). A Proposed Conceptual Model of Teacher Turnover Intention in the Vocational High Schools in Indonesia. Brilliant International Journal Of Management And Tourism, 2(3), 239-250. https://doi.org/10.55606/bijmt.v2i3.817
Waldman, J. D., Kelly, F., Aurora, S., & Smith, H. (2014). The Shocking Cost of Turnover in Health Care. Health Care Management Review, 29(1), 2-7. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004010-200401000-00002
Wang, G. (2025). Teaching Autonomy and Teachers' Turnover Intentions Under the Labor Process Theory Perspective: A Moderated Mediation Model of Work Alienation and Professional Identity. Teaching and Teacher Education, 159, 104981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2025.104981
Wijayanthi, I. A. T., Subagio, M., Suhendra, A., Hartini, & Darmawan, A. A. (2024). Employee Retention Implementation Prevents Employee Turnover. Strategic Journal of Accounting and Management, 2(2), 288-301. https://doi.org/10.38035/sjam.v2i2
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Hassan Dadashi (Author); Fakhreddin Ahmadi; Hamid Shafizadeh (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
