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Teachers' attitudes toward reporting child sexual abuse: problems with existing research leading to new scale development

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Walsh, Kerryann, Rassafiani, Mehdi, Mathews, Ben, Farrell, Ann, Butler, Des·2010·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
DOI 10.1080/10538711003781392
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Abstract

This paper details a systematic literature review identifying problems in extant research relating to teachers' attitudes toward reporting child sexual abuse and offers a model for new attitude scale development and testing. Scale development comprised a five-phase process grounded in contemporary attitude theories, including (a) developing the initial item pool, (b) conducting a panel review, (c) refining the scale via an expert focus group, (d) building content validity through cognitive interviews, and (e) assessing internal consistency via field testing. The resulting 21-item scale displayed construct validity in preliminary testing. The scale may prove useful as a research tool, given the theoretical supposition that attitudes may be changed with time, context, experience, and education. Further investigation with a larger sample is warranted.

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Authors
Walsh, K., Rassafiani, M., Mathews, B., Farrell, A., & Butler, D.
Affiliations
  • Queensland University of Technology (AU)
  • University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (IR)
Corresponding author
Walsh, Kerryann
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2010-05-27
Volume
19
Issue
3
Pages
310-336
ISSN
  • 1053-8712 (ISSN-L)
  • 1547-0679
DOI
10.1080/10538711003781392
OpenAlex
W2023978993
Cited by
72
References
91
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
FWCI
2.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Australian Research Council (DP664847)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Military, Security, and Education Studies
Keywords
child sexual abuse, teacher attitudes, attitude scale development, reporting behavior, child protection, cognitive interviewing, content validity, construct validity, attitude change
MeSH terms
Adult, Attitude, Australia, Awareness, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Faculty, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Mandatory Reporting

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