Attitude Changes Among Literacy Teachers Coincident With Training and Experience

Abstract

The effects of a short-term training course in changing the attitudes of teachers toward illiterate adults was evaluated by administering an attitude survey at three different times. The magnitude of at titude change was then compared. It was found that the greater shift in attitude coincided with the period of actual teaching rather than the training course. These results indicated that a short-term course is not effective in inducing long-term changes in teacher attitudes. This conclusion is a qualified one, however, because: (1) the course may have had a selective "sleeper effect" on some attitudes wherein the occurrence of observable change was delayed, and (2) it may be feasible to moderate negative or unfavorable attitudes toward illiterate adults during the time available in a short-term course.