Measuring Service Quality in Teacher Training Programs: The EppekQual Scale

Abstract

The quality of educational services that prospective teachers receive during their training has been in the spotlight of the educational community interest for the past years. This is due to the connection of their training to the efficiency of their profession. Many empirical studies gauge the quality of these educational services by evaluating the students' satisfaction level. The above estimations are realized using specialized measurement scales designed to efficiently evaluate specific educational contexts. In Greece, there are no such specialized scales to measure the quality of teacher training programs offered by universities. Hence, the study aims to design and control the validity and reliability of a new measurement scale for service quality in teacher training programs. To design the scale, a mixed methodology was adopted. Firstly, a literature review was conducted to determine the theoretical context from which an initial data pool was formed. To refine the scale we adopt qualitative techniques, such as expert opinions and focus groups. Structural equation modeling was also applied to assess the validity of the new scale. The outcome of the above methodology revealed the EppekQual scale which consists of six quality dimensions (Administrative Services, Learning Outcomes, Curriculum, Support Services & Facilities, Teaching Process, and Academic Staff) that are interpreted through 34 items. The EppekQual scale constitutes a tool for educational institution managers to successfully design and efficiently realize specialized educational programs by measuring educational service quality based on learners' perceptions.