Dworkin Teacher Burnout Scale
Measures work alienation and burnout among teachers across five dimensions: powerlessness, normlessness, meaninglessness, isolation, and estrangement.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Dworkin Teacher Burnout Scale was developed by G. Gary Dworkin (1986). It is designed to measure Teacher Burnout. The scale is intended for use with Teachers.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Powerlessness, Normlessness, Meaninglessness, Isolation, Estrangement.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Powerlessness | 1,2 | 2 |
| Normlessness | 3,4 | 2 |
| Meaninglessness | 5,6 | 2 |
| Isolation | 7,8 | 2 |
| Estrangement | 9,10 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 5 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 10 to 50. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low alienation / burnout: 10 – 22
- Moderate alienation / burnout: 23 – 37
- High alienation / burnout: 38 – 50
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.83.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.