Journal of College & University Student Housing Volume 48, No. 1 - 76

Optimizing the Measurement of RA Self-Efficacy
sense of each candidate's self-efficacy relative
to the pool. Furthermore, if the RASE
is completed by returning and new RAs,
hall directors can build a team based on
residence hall needs and staff self-efficacy
strengths. That is, the RASE can be used
to help with placement of RAs within halls
or apartments based on job duties they are
more and less confident in performing.
Finally, several considerations should
be weighed as institutions venture into local
measurement or building of their own RA
self-efficacy tool. In general, those interested
in measuring RA self-efficacy should consider
the benefits of an instrument aligned
to the job description and use of modern
measurement techniques such as the Rasch
model. By approaching this task with an instrument
developed uniquely for the institution
and analyzing data using the Rasch model,
researchers and practitioners can mitigate
typical issues (e.g., redundant items, samplerelated
limitations) when these measurement
practices are overlooked. Researchers
and practitioners can anticipate these issues
when measuring RA self-efficacy and determine
appropriate strategies to collect reliable
data and make valid interpretations.
Limitation and Future Directions
The number of RAs employed during the
academic year may be limited to smaller
samples than those observed in our study.
This is a limiting condition for any type of
quantitative study, but, with measurement
techniques such as the Rasch rating scale
model, it is not a deterring condition. Additionally,
statements based on job duties that
applicants-especially those that are highly
qualified-are expected to perform or for
which they demonstrate competency before
being hired can be easily endorsed, producing
data susceptible to an extreme response
style at the high end of the response scale.
76 The Journal of College and University Student Housing
The results of our study suggest that the optimal
measurement of RA self-efficacy is one
that is based on an intentional purpose (i.e.,
hiring, training, evaluation) and guided by
collaborative relationships with experts. In
our study, the optimal measurement using
the RASE was driven by the practical purpose
of measuring the perception of critical
job duties coupled with meeting ideal instrument
development guidelines. These experts
should include both applied partners in student
housing and research experts in the field
of psychology and psychometrics in order to
mitigate any construct and measurementrelated
issues associated with measuring data
on this unique role on university and college
campuses. Future studies could consider collecting
data from RAs at multiple institutions
and adding more challenging-to-endorse
items (job duties) to build an instrument with
broader impact and scope.
CONCLUSIONS
Practitioners could consider the RASE a good
instrument at measuring RA self-efficacy
based on how all 23 items fit the RSM and
evidence that the RSM assumptions were
observed. However, the RASE still does not
adequately cover the full range of the RA
self-efficacy continuum; in particular, more
challenging-to-endorse items are needed to
better measure or separate out RAs with higher
self-efficacy as observed with our sample of
RAs. This phenomenon was also observed by
Toland and Usher (2016), who recommended
that future self-efficacy " studies should identify
more challenging-to-endorse items to
better match the range of self-efficacy levels
being assessed and to improve the generalizability
of findings " (p. 953). Additionally, our
results show that a 3-category response scale
is reasonable for capturing RA self-reports
of their abilities to perform RA-specific job
duties and responsibilities.
Journal of College & University Student Housing Volume 48, No. 1

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