Introduction to Data Analysis Handbook - AED Center for Early Care ...

Classroom Quality (continued)
Process Components Content Information
Data Analysis The different instruments for measuring classroom quality
use information from specific items to form “portraits” of
different aspects of overall classroom quality (sub-scores
or sub-scales). in addition, the instrumental sub-scales
combine to form a total (overall) score. Therefore, scores
obtained by using one (or both) of the instruments can be
examined at two basic levels:
Instrument-level Options:
1.
2.
3.
individual item
Sub-group (sub-scale)
Total score
Program-level Options:
individual classroom
Classrooms across center
Centers across agency
Grantee-wide
For example, ECERS-R examines the following seven subscales
(categories or groups) of classroom quality: Space and
Furnishings; Personal Care Routines; Language-Reasoning;
Activities; interaction; Program Structure; and Parents and
Staff.
Each of these sub-groups is assessed using a 7-point scale,
providing scores, as follows:
1 = inadequate; 2; 3 = Minimal; 4.; 5 = Good; 6.; 7 =
Excellent.
note that the odd numbers of the scale are where the level of
quality is defined; the even numbers represent “mid-points”
between two defined levels.
once we have a grasp of how the instrument is organized
and how items are measured, we can begin to understand
what data we will be gathering and then how to analyze and
interpret it.
1.
2.
3.
4.
© AED/TAC-12 Spring 2006.