Teacher Attitudes and Attitude Change. Volume 1: A Handbook for Educational Practitioners

Abstract

This five-part report comprises a synthesis and distillation of research findings on teacher attitudes and the conditions under which they may be expected to change. The purpose of the study is to provide guidelines for practitioners interested in effecting changes in those teacher attitudes which may interfere with effective schooling efforts. Part 1 presents a brief overview of issues related to the whole field of attitude change, and the role of the teacher as a change agent. Part 2 discusses the problems which relate to teacher attitudes toward subject matter content and the introduction of new content in existing and new subject-matter courses. Three main curriculum areas are also defined in this section: a) academic subject matter, b) career (or vocational) education, and c) nontraditional curricula. Part 3 examines the ways that characteristics of students affect their teachers' attitudes toward them, and subsequently predispose differential treatment and sets of expectations on the part of the teachers. Part 4 deals with teacher attitudes toward organizational and instructional innovations. Topics included in this section are a) open education, b) staffing, c) scheduling, d) motivational procedures, e) individualization, f) behavior objectives, g) behavior modification, and h) education technology. Part 5 provides a brief summary statement. (Author/JS)