EFL Teachers' Adaptive Thinking: A Rasch Model-Based Validation

Kianinezhad, Neda; Amirian, Seyed Mohammad Reza

doi:10.22077/ali.2025.9542.1159

EFL Teachers' Adaptive Thinking: A Rasch Model-Based Validation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Neda Kianinezhad ¹

Seyed Mohammad Reza Amirian ²

¹ Ph.D. Candidate in Applied Linguistics, Department of English Language, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Hakim Sabzevari University, Iran

² Assistant Professor in Applied Linguistics, Department of English Language, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Hakim Sabzevari University, Iran

10.22077/ali.2025.9542.1159

Abstract

Adaptability is an extremely valuable ability in teachers, particularly in schools with rigid curriculum and scarce resources. Even though all agree about its utmost importance, few investigations have been carried out in Iranian EFL teachers' adaptive thinking and behavior. To bridge this gap, we developed the PATS, an instrument that is culturally specific and drew from the Individual Adaptability Theory of Ployhart and Bliese (2006). PATS assesses six key areas: flexibility, creativity, problem-solving, analytical thinking, self-awareness, and self regulation. We collected data from 150 Iranian EFL teachers, recording their age, gender, education level, and years of teaching experience. The final scale consists of 35 items, and its reliability was tested using the Rasch Rating Scale Model. Results demonstrated high reliability, with internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92) and person separation reliability (0.93). Principal Components Analysis confirmed unidimensionality, with 52.7% of the variance explained and the first contrast’s eigenvalue below 2.0. All items showed good model fit. Person–item maps indicated that item difficulty aligned well with teacher ability levels, confirming the scale's effectiveness in distinguishing levels of adaptability. In general, PATS is a sound and a valid adaptive thinking measure for Iranian EFL instructors. In addition to measurement, it also starts professional growth and awareness; thus, adding adaptability training to teacher preparation courses might have an influence on responsiveness in teaching and motivation in different EFL settings.

Keywords

Adaptive Thinking

EFL Teachers

Rasch Model Validation

Teacher Adaptability

Persian Adaptive Thinking Scale (PATS)

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