Date of Conferral
2017
Degree
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
School
Education
Advisor
Jennifer Keeley
Abstract
Abstract
Some teachers have negative attitudes toward teaching students with learning disabilities in the regular classroom. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the attitudes of regular classroom teachers regarding several aspects of inclusive education (IE), as well as how teacher education, training, and experience contributes to the teachers' attitudes towards IE. The research was guided by Cooper and Fazio's (1984) reformulation of the theory of cognitive dissonance. A sample population of 135 classroom teachers was used. The participants completed the Scale of Teachers' Attitudes toward Inclusive Classrooms survey instrument and a demographic survey, which were analyzed through a MANOVA and MANCOVA. The results indicated that teachers had positive attitudes toward inclusionary teaching practices; however, the teachers also conveyed negative attitudes toward the philosophical aspects of inclusionary teaching practices, and these attitudes differed significantly per level of education and teacher training. The results of this study were used to develop a teacher training curriculum to improve co-teaching strategies, classroom management tips, emergency procedures, and information about learning disabilities. This study will contribute toward positive social change as these attitudes impact the teaching practices and student learning.
Recommended Citation
Greene, Brenda Lyons, "Teachers' Attitudes toward Inclusive Classrooms" (2017). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 3445.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3445
