POSSIBLE DETERMINANTS OF TEACHER RECEPTIVITY TO EVALUATION

Abstract

This paper summarizes two exploratory case studies of teachers' perceptions about their receptivity to evaluation and about possible determinants of this receptivity. The first study explores relationships of receptivity to teacher controllability of evaluated behaviors. It surveys perceptions of elementary school teachers and suggests the existence of a strong positive relationship in activities associated with motivating students. The study also offers a discussion of the significance of controllability as a possible determinant of receptivity. The second study extends the investigation of the relationship between receptivity and controllability. It surveys perceptions of secondary school teachers. Specifically, it explores relationships between receptivity and controllability over two kinds of decision: those associated with teaching activities and those associated with evaluation of these activities. The study also explores the effect on the above relationships of trust and confidence which teachers have in the expertise of their evaluators. The former two relationships are found to be positive. The first, but not the second, is found to be affected by trust and confidence. Selected implications of the findings are offered.