Judging a book by its cover? Investigating pre-service teacher's stereotypes towards pupils with special educational needs

Abstract

Stereotypes about pupils with special educational needs are prevalent both in society and among pre- and in-service teachers. However, little is known about the specific stereotypes pre-service teachers associate with autistic pupils, pupils with Down syndrome, and pupils with dyslexia. We explored these in two studies. Study 1 (N=13) involved qualitative interviews to identify potential stereotype content. Study 2 (N=213) used these findings to create a questionnaire to quantify these stereotypes. We found distinct stereotypes associated with all three groups of pupils. For successful inclusion, teachers must recognize the uniqueness of each pupil, including those with different diagnoses.