Date Approved
5-15-1996
Embargo Period
9-4-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Secondary Education
Department
Educational Services and Leadership
College
College of Education
Advisor
Levinowitz, Lili
Subject(s)
High school teachers--Attitudes; Teacher effectiveness--New Jersey
Disciplines
Secondary Education and Teaching
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' subjective perception of their teaching effectiveness and the factors that facilitate and/or inhibit their sense of efficacy in four South Jersey high schools. In addition, two problems were examined as to the impact of class size on teaching efficacy and does experience in teaching affect a teacher's sense of effectiveness?
The sample was selected from high school teachers in a two county area in southern New Jersey. Teachers were given a questionnaire to complete which was designed to identify important attitudes toward teaching efficacy. A total of 275 questionnaires were distributed and 136 were returned. Data were reported in means, modes, and frequencies for teacher effectiveness; and inferential statistics for comparing the efficacy of experienced versus new teachers.
Findings confirmed that teachers in the area are confident in their ability to teach. Two concerns surfaced that reflected a problem: class size and adequate teacher training. The most positive responses were a teacher's ability to adapt to curricular changes, the ability to re-adjust an assignment to a student's level of difficulty, and the ability to redirect a noisy student. There were no statistical differences between experienced and new teachers and their attitudes toward efficacy.
Recommended Citation
Knudsen, Maryanne A., "A survey of the state of teacher effectiveness in four South Jersey high schools" (1996). Theses and Dissertations. 2172.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/2172
