| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Description | The Teacher Preference Schedules (TPS; Stern et al., 1960) were created to assess unconscious motivations related to teaching. Initially, 18 teacher roles were described, followed by in-depth interviews with teachers representing these roles. Subsequently, scales were developed to measure teaching gratifications and attitudes across ten specific roles: practical, status-striving, nurturant, nondirective, critical, preadult-fixated, orderly, dependent, exhibitionistic, and dominant. A pool of 100 items formed the basis for the gratification and attitude scales, with each scale utilizing a six-point response system. The gratification scale ranges from “strong dislike, disapproval” to “strong liking, preference, approval,” while the attitude scale ranges from “strong disagreement” to “strong agreement.” These instruments were administered to teacher-trainees, practice-teachers, and experienced teachers. Results demonstrated good test-retest reliability across all scales and significant item discriminations. |
| Author | Stern, George G.; Masling, Joseph; Denton, Barnett; Henderson, John; Levin, Rachel |
| Purpose | To measure the gratification (motivations) and attitudes (rationalizations) associated with ten different teaching roles. |
| Construct | Teaching Gratification; Teaching Motivation |
| Instrument Type | Interview Schedule/Guide |
| Reliability | Reliability coefficients for the 10 subscales ranged from .654 to .865. |
| Validity | Item discrimination analysis revealed the lowest scale average to be .26, which is above the .20 threshold suggested by Ebel for significant discrimination. Most entries exceeded a value of .40. |
| Factor Analysis | No factor analysis was performed. |
| Test Items Available | No. Please contact the authors or publisher for obtaining the items. |
| Administration Method | Paper |
| Test Year | 1960 |
| Population Group | Human; Male; Female |
| Population Details | Location: United States; Sample: Undergraduates |
| Classification | 5900 Education, Teaching, and Student Characteristics |
| Keywords | Teacher Preference Schedules; Test Development; Test Reliability; Test Validity; Teaching Roles; Teacher Attitudes; Gratification |
| Index Terms | Roles; Teacher Attitudes; Teacher Characteristics; Teachers; Test Reliability; Test Validity |
| References | Stern, G. G., Masling, J., Denton, B., Henderson, J., & Levin, R. (1960). Two scales for the assessment of unconscious motivations for teaching. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 20, 9–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316446002000102 |
| Permissions | May use for Research/Teaching |
Cite this article
Mohammed looti (2026). Teacher Preference Schedules (TPS). PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/teacher-preference-schedules-tps/
Mohammed looti. "Teacher Preference Schedules (TPS)." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 4 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/teacher-preference-schedules-tps/.
Mohammed looti. "Teacher Preference Schedules (TPS)." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/teacher-preference-schedules-tps/.
Mohammed looti (2026) 'Teacher Preference Schedules (TPS)', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/teacher-preference-schedules-tps/.
[1] Mohammed looti, "Teacher Preference Schedules (TPS)," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.
Mohammed looti. Teacher Preference Schedules (TPS). PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.