The use of Likert scale instruments for measuring teachers' beliefs is
criticized because of amplifying social desirability, reducing the
willingness to make differentiations, and often providing less or no
contexts. Those weaknesses may distort teachers' responses to a Likert
scale instrument, causing inconsistencies between their responses and
their actions. Therefore, the author offers an alternative approach by
employing rank-then-rate items and considering students' abilities as
one of the factors affecting teachers' beliefs. The results confirm that
the offered approach may give a better prediction about teachers'
beliefs than does a Likert scale instrument.