Korean Educational Development Institute(KEDI)

 This study developed and validated the Educational Dedication Diagnostic Tool (EDDT), designed to systematically assess teachers’ long-term professional dedication. The EDDT comprises six key dimensions: passion, commitment, self-efficacy, social support, professional understanding and growth, and engagement. Through a rigorous multi-phase validation process―including Delphi surveys, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses―the study established the tool’s reliability and construct validity. Findings highlight the conceptual distinction between educational dedication and related constructs such as passion or engagement, emphasizing the importance of intrinsic motivation and perseverance in sustaining teacher effectiveness. By incorporating factors like self-efficacy and social support, the EDDT offers practical value in identifying at-risk teachers and informing targeted interventions to promote resilience and retention. Furthermore, the tool’s structure allows for potential cross-cultural application and international comparative research. Overall, the EDDT contributes to both the theoretical understanding and practical enhancement of teacher well-being, offering policy-relevant insights into supporting sustained educational dedication.