ERIC Number: ED646149
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 113
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-8340-7286-7
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
An Examination of Preservice Teachers' Dispositions Related to Educating Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
Sheena Nicole Manuel
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Louisiana Tech University
This quasi-experimental study examined preservice teachers' attitudes, dispositions, and levels of self-efficacy regarding their ability to work with students who are blind or visually impaired effectively. This study assessed preservice teachers' attitudes of blindness using Bell and Silverman's (2011) Social Responsibility about Blindness Scale. Participants' dispositions were assessed with the Shippen, Crites, Houchins, Ramsey, and Simon's (2005) Preservice Inclusion Survey about students who are blind/visually impaired. Participants' self-efficacy beliefs were assessed using Tschannen-Moran and Hoy's (2001) Teachers' Sense of Efficacy (short-form) scale. Viewing the hypotheses through the lens of Bandura's (1971) Social Cognitive Theory, specifically Triadic Reciprocal Determinism, information was gathered about preservice teachers' personal factors [dispositions/attitudes], behaviors [efficacy], and environmental influences [intervention] regarding students who are blind/visually impaired. To analyze the pre-test data, analysis of several variance tests were conducted to determine if a statistically significant difference in test scores existed between the control and experimental groups' attitudes, dispositions, and self-efficacy beliefs. Findings revealed that at the pre-test, both groups were statistically homogenous considering age, gender, and test scores on the SRBS, PSIS, and the TSES. At the post-test, the groups remained the same, and a Mann-Whitney U test rejected the premise that a significant difference existed in scores between the control and experimental group after the intervention. Recommendations for future research are to embed information from the intervention in special education coursework, use a classroom platform to track participants' level of access and participation, and/or conduct a mixed-methods study. The implication for the field of teacher preparation is to use the instruments to examine and investigate preservice teachers' attitudes, dispositions, and self-efficacy beliefs about students with disabilities. Regarding the field of education, administrators in school districts can also offer the information from the intervention as professional development for teachers who are new to educating blind/visually impaired students as results show a trend of increased attitudes about blindness. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Blindness, Visual Impairments, Students with Disabilities, Teacher Attitudes, Personality, Self Efficacy, Self Concept Measures, Teacher Behavior, Environmental Influences, Pretests Posttests
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Teachers Sense of Efficacy Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A