School testing culture and teacher satisfaction

Journal article


Smith, William C. and Holloway, Jessica. (2020). School testing culture and teacher satisfaction. Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability. 32(4), pp. 461-479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11092-020-09342-8
AuthorsSmith, William C. and Holloway, Jessica
Abstract

Teachers, as frontline providers of education, are increasingly targets of accountability reforms. Such reforms often narrowly define ‘teacher quality’ around performative terms. Past research suggests holding teachers to account for student performance measures (i.e. test scores) damages their job satisfaction, including increasing stress and burnout. This article examines whether the relationship between test-based accountability and teacher satisfaction can be, in part, explained by the emphasis of student test scores in teacher appraisals. Although historically used for formative purposes, recent research demonstrates that across a large range of countries, nearly all teachers work in a system where their appraisal is based, in part, on students’ test scores. Using data from the 2013 Teaching and Learning International Survey, we pool data from 33 countries to evaluate the direct and indirect effect of school testing culture on teacher satisfaction. Results suggest that there is a direct relationship between the intensity of the testing culture and the satisfaction of teachers, as well as an indirect relationship with test score emphasis in teacher appraisals suppressing potential positive effects of appraisals on teacher satisfaction.

Keywordsteacher satisfaction; accountability; testing culture; teacher appraisal; TALIS
Year2020
JournalEducational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability
Journal citation32 (4), pp. 461-479
PublisherSpringer
ISSN1874-8597
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s11092-020-09342-8
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85095444292
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range461-479
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online05 Nov 2020
Publication process dates
Accepted28 Oct 2020
Deposited18 Aug 2021
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https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8w9qv/school-testing-culture-and-teacher-satisfaction

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