An Instrument for Measuring Quality Practices in Education

Quality Management Journal vol. 7 issue 3 - July 2000

Abstract: [This abstract is based on the author's abstract. A longer abstract is available on the journal's website]

The results of three studies designed to create and validate a survey instrument for the measurement of quality management and continuous improvement practices in educational settings is presented. The goal in design was to create an instrument that would complement and enhance the Baldrige Award audit and overcome some of the time and length limitations of this award. Designers wanted a tool that would be efficient, provide timely feedback, and represent an entire organization. Measures of fit and interpretability suggest that the Quality Practices in Education survey achieves these goals. The process used to develop the instrument included exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques, qualitative data to provide insights into the development of the quantitative instrument, and built-in replication. Researchers in any substantive area may use the strategy.

Keywords: Education - Continuous quality improvement (CQI) - Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) - Quality management (QM) - Quality metrics