Zones of Indifference Instrument – ZII
Measures the zones of indifference of teachers to directives issued by school administrators, reflecting the extent to which they accept or resist administrative authority.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Zones of Indifference Instrument – ZII was developed by Wilkes, S. T., & Blackbourn, J. M. (1981). It is designed to measure Zones of Indifference to Administrative Directives. The scale is intended for use with Teachers.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 134 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Teacher-Determined Practices, Administrator-Determined Policy.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher-Determined Practices | 45,46,57,126,128 | 5 |
| Administrator-Determined Policy | 97,102,114,121,123 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Comply without question, 2 = Comply but mentally question authority, 3 = Mentally question authority and alter application, 4 = Mentally question and refuse compliance unless forced.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 134 to 536. Interpretation guidelines:
- Wide Zone of Indifference (High Compliance): 134 – 234
- Moderate Zone of Indifference: 235 – 335
- Narrow Zone of Indifference (High Resistance): 336 – 536
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.95 (total instrument), 0.92 (subscales).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 25 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.