The Effect of Power Sources Used by Lecturers in Class Management on The Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of Fairness Regarding Their Learning Environment

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the power sources used by lecturers in class management on pre-service teachers’ perceptions of fairness regarding their learning environment. The sample of the study, which was designed in the correlational survey model, consists of 455 pre-service teachers studying at Mugla Sitki Kocman University. The data were collected through the application of the ‘Fair Learning Environment Scale’ and the ‘Lecturers’ Power Sources Scale’. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics, t -test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis was used. Based on the findings, it was seen that pre-service teachers perceive their learning environment as a medium level of fair in general and they think the lecturers use legitimate power the most. Pre-service teachers’ opinions regarding their fair learning environments and the power sources used by their lecturers do not significantly differ according to gender variable but they do differ according to class and department variables. The power sources used by lecturers explain 57% of the total variance of the respectful partnership dimension and 46% of the total variance of the systemic fairness dimension of the fair learning environment. The use of personal power and information power by the lecturers leads to an increase in pre-service teachers’ perceptions of fairness and the use of coercive power leads their fairness expectations to decrease.