ERIC Number: ED507008
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 69
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Classroom Dynamics: A Study about Perceptions Held by Students of Students with Disabilities in General Education Classrooms
Wiseman, Tiffany Chantelle
Online Submission, Masters Thesis, Mountain State University
(Purpose) The purpose of this study was to examine the perception of children in the general education classroom of their classmates with developmental and other disabilities. Gender and grade level were evaluated, but more importantly, levels of integration and relationships with people with disabilities were analyzed. (Methodology) Two hundred and fifty one students were administered a short questionnaire. The questionnaire (23 multiple choice, 1 fill in the blank and 1 short essay) was used to determine if a child's perception of children with disability(s) is impacted by: Gender, Grade Level, Level of Integration, and Relationships. (Results) Results indicated no notable relationship between the percent of positively answered questions and grade level. To be noted, however, were the relationships found amongst Level of Integration, Relationships, and Gender. The mean percentage of positively answered questions of the above categories fell within a 2.11% range. However, notable differences were found among the subcategories below: Level of Integration, Relationships and Gender (Level of Integration: x2 (8, n = 3689) = 59.8930, P less than 0.05; Relationships: x2 (14, n = 3596) = 42.2127, P less than 0.05; Gender: x2 (2, n = 3947) = 45.9045, P less than 0.05). No notable relationship was found within the Grade Level category (x2 (4, n = 3765) = 4.1038, P = NS). (Conclusions) The results of the study indicated that a student's perception of people with disabilities is substantially influenced by their gender, relationships with people with disabilities and the level of integration of people with disabilities in their classroom. (Recommendations) Further research should be completed in the area of inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom to further investigate: the effects of integration on the perceptions held by students of people with disabilities; how and why gender can and/or does influence the perception of people with disabilities; the impact of grade level/age on students' perception of people with disabilities; if perceptions of people with disabilities within each gender changes with age; and if a teacher's perceptions of people with disabilities and integration into the general education classroom influences students' perceptions of people with disabilities. Nine appendixes are included: (1) Review of Literature; (2) Student Survey; (3) Teacher Instruction; (4) Student Instruction; (5) Letter to Parents/Consent Form; (6) Letter to Teachers; (7) Institutional Review Board Approval Letter to Test Subjects; (8) Chi Square Test of Independence Tables; and (9) Generic Presentation of Responses to Survey Question by Category. (Contains 8 tables and 3 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Inclusive Schools, General Education, Student Attitudes, Disabilities, Mainstreaming, Attitude Measures, Questionnaires, Gender Differences, Age Differences, Peer Relationship, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Teacher Attitudes, Regular and Special Education Relationship, Elementary School Students, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Friendship
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 4; Grade 5; Grade 6
Audience: Parents; Students; Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: West Virginia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A