Biographical Factors and Teacher Effectiveness

Abstract

This study attempted to detemine whether biographical factors might be identified which would distinguish between teachers receiving high and low student assessments. More than 3,000 high school seniors named the most and least effective teacher they had experienced. Most and least effective were defined in terms of the three major patterns of classroom teacher behavior identified by Ryans. Teachers named by three or more seniors completed a biographical questionnaire. Effective teachers numbering 125 and ineffective teachers numbering responded. A coefficient of correlation was found for each of the biographical items and the criterion, teacher rating. Significant correlations were found for amount of mother’s formal education, mobility of teacher, number of books read annually, home ownership, and student-teacher relationships.