An attitude questionnaire (accompanied by a student vignette) completed by 210 faculty members explored (1) their preception of the academic potential of LD students, and (2) their perceived ability to work with learning disabled individuals. Among conclusions was that university faculty are influenced by the presence of labeling information. (JW)

Elementary teachers (N=276) reviewed a vignette of a hypothetical gifted student described as having either mild or moderate behavioral problems and either nonlabelled or labelled as behaviorally disordered (BD). Teachers were more likely to refer the mildly disturbed student for placement in a gifted program and were not significantly influenced…

A study examined attitudes of vocational teachers toward students with handicapped labels. The instrument was a descriptive vignette of a hypothetical student and a modified version of the Guskin attitude scale. Overall, teachers viewed the labeled students as less competent, less reliable, etc. than nonlabeled students with the same description.…

Teachers of gifted children read a descriptive vignette of a hypothetical gifted student and rated their willingness to refer the student for gifted program placement. Results showed that the 197 teachers were influenced by the presence of the educational label "learning disabled" and by the social class of the student. (Author/JDD)

Public school teachers (N=68), reading the same vignette about a gifted child (alternately nonlabeled or labeled as learning-disabled or physically-handicapped) and expressing opinions regarding possible placement in a gifted program, felt that nonlabeled and physically-handicapped students should be placed in a gifted program to a greater degree…