The Relationship Between Attitudes and Training in Research. Final Report.

N

132

National Inst. of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC.

Attitude Measures; Attitudes; College Faculty; College Students; Educational Research; Research; Semantic Differential

This study attempted to relate the development of attitudes toward educational research with two variables in training: institutional setting and courses usually related to research training. The study compared the attitudes toward research between a) university and college faculty members, b) full-time and part-time graduate students, c) undergraduates in education and undergraduates in psychology, and d) college and university undergraduate students. A Semantic Differential scale of 6 concepts and 16 scales was used for the study. No significant differences were found between the attitudes of college and university faculty members, but all other comparisons revealed attitudinal differences. The results of the study suggest that: a) college and part-time graduate students as compared with university and full-time graduate students are less tolerant of theory and view quantitative procedures as having less value; and b) training in quantitative techniques positively affects the attitude of trainees. The instruments used in developing the Semantic Differential scale, as well as the data analysis tables, are included as appendixes A and B. (HMD)

1974

ED093836