Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Olga Salnikova

Abstract

While researchers have identified student incivility as a problem in higher education in the United States, little is known about how students and faculty perceive the issue within the classroom environment at a private university in the northeast. Uncivil behavior can negatively impact the learning environment. The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to compare students' and faculty's perceptions of civility in the classrooms and explore how civility is addressed in course syllabi and artifacts. The theoretical base was Clark's continuum of incivility, and the conceptual framework was Bandura's social cognitive theory. Types and frequency of uncivil behaviors were measured using Bjorklund and Rehling's survey tool. Sixty-one faculty members and first-year students selected using purposeful sampling participated in an electronic survey and data was analyzed statistically. Findings showed students and faculty perceive the severity and frequency of behaviors in a similar manner. A document analysis was conducted using coding and thematic analysis of key words related to civility. Results showed that syllabus documents and classroom artifacts were not being used to communicate expectations about the behaviors faculty and students found most severe. A professional development project was created to share results with faculty, discuss student perspectives of civility, and create civility statements for inclusion in future syllabus documents. Methods regarding how to address uncivil behavior in the classroom can continue to be developed with both faculty and student perspectives taken into account. An increase of civil behaviors will result in positive social change at this institution.

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