Teacher Ratings of Teaching Behaviors Derived from the Research Literature

Abstract

In spite of the rapidly increasing body of research within the past 20 years concerning the effects on pupil achievement of certain teaching skills, there is considerable skepticism regarding the impact of this research on classroom practice. This skepticism is frequently based on the assumption that teachers are unaware of and indifferent to the research literature. A questionnaire study was conducted among 141 elementary and junior high special education teachers to evaluate the degree of their agreement with the findings of research conducted primarily in regular classrooms. Results of the study showed special education teachers to be in agreement with classroom research on teaching skills. Teacher behaviors positively correlated with pupil achievement were rated significantly higher than behaviors negatively correlated with achievement. The predominant influence on teacher ratings was the district in which the teacher was employed. Possible explanations of this effect are discussed. Student grade level and type of class (resource, self-contained) also affected teacher ratings, but only as joint effects with district. There were several significant differences between groups of teachers on individual items. Teacher age or years of teaching experience did not affect ratings. Results of this study have several implications for the role of IHE's in preservice and inservice education.