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Evidence on the Dimensionality and Reliability of Professional References’ Ratings of Teacher Applicants

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  • Goldhaber, Dan
  • Grout, Cyrus
  • Wolff, Malcolm
  • Martinková, Patrícia

Abstract

There is growing interest in using measures of teacher applicant quality to improve hiring decisions, but the statistical properties of such measures are not well understood. We use unique data on structured ratings solicited from the references of teacher applicants to explore the dimensionality of measures of teacher applicant quality and the inter-rater reliability of the reference ratings. Despite questions about applicants designed to capture multiple dimensions of quality, factor analysis suggests that the reference ratings only capture one underlying dimension. Point estimates of inter-rater reliability range between 0.23 and 0.31 and are significantly lower for novice applicants. It is difficult to judge whether these levels of reliability are high or low in the current context given so little evidence on applicant assessment tools.

Suggested Citation

  • Goldhaber, Dan & Grout, Cyrus & Wolff, Malcolm & Martinková, Patrícia, 2021. "Evidence on the Dimensionality and Reliability of Professional References’ Ratings of Teacher Applicants," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:83:y:2021:i:c:s0272775721000492
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2021.102130
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jacob, Brian A. & Rockoff, Jonah E. & Taylor, Eric S. & Lindy, Benjamin & Rosen, Rachel, 2018. "Teacher applicant hiring and teacher performance: Evidence from DC public schools," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 81-97.
    2. Patrícia Martinková & Dan Goldhaber & Elena Erosheva, 2018. "Disparities in ratings of internal and external applicants: A case for model-based inter-rater reliability," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Matthew A. Kraft, 2019. "Teacher Effects on Complex Cognitive Skills and Social-Emotional Competencies," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 54(1), pages 1-36.
    4. Brian A. Jacob & Lars Lefgren, 2005. "Principals as Agents: Subjective Performance Measurement in Education," NBER Working Papers 11463, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Bates, Douglas & Mächler, Martin & Bolker, Ben & Walker, Steve, 2015. "Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using lme4," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 67(i01).
    6. Dan Goldhaber & Cyrus Grout & Nick Huntington-Klein, 2017. "Screen Twice, Cut Once: Assessing the Predictive Validity of Applicant Selection Tools," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 12(2), pages 197-223, Spring.
    7. Jonah E. Rockoff & Brian A. Jacob & Thomas J. Kane & Douglas O. Staiger, 2011. "Can You Recognize an Effective Teacher When You Recruit One?," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 6(1), pages 43-74, January.
    8. Douglas N. Harris & Stacey A. Rutledge & William K. Ingle & Cynthia C. Thompson, 2010. "Mix and Match: What Principals Really Look for When Hiring Teachers," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 5(2), pages 228-246, April.
    9. Jacob, Brian A. & Lefgren, Lars, 2005. "Principals as Agents: Subjective Performance Measures in Education," Working Paper Series rwp05-040, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
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    1. Patrícia Martinková & František Bartoš & Marek Brabec, 2023. "Assessing Inter-rater Reliability With Heterogeneous Variance Components Models: Flexible Approach Accounting for Contextual Variables," Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, , vol. 48(3), pages 349-383, June.

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