Abstract

This paper presents the development and validation of the Learning & Educator Nurturing Style (LENS), a new inventory in Japanese designed to identify and assess educational philosophy. Based on the Philosophies Held by Instructors of Lifelong-learners (PHIL) framework, LENS was created through a rigorous back-translation process to ensure linguistic and cultural accuracy. The development process included item translation, expert review, and pilot testing to ensure conceptual clarity and cultural relevance within the Japanese context. This article details the theoretical foundations of LENS, the back-translation approach using PHIL, and the outcomes of a validation study conducted with a sample of educators. Additionally, this study explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing academic research, detailing how AI-assisted tools supported literature synthesis, coherence refinement, and statistical analysis while maintaining rigorous human oversight. The final instrument provides a reliable and comprehensive tool for categorizing various educational philosophies, offering valuable insights for researchers and practitioners interested in understanding and applying educational philosophy in Japan. Furthermore, this research contributes to the evolving discussion on AI-assisted methodologies, demonstrating how AI can enhance—not replace—academic inquiry.

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