ERIC Number: ED308068
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1989
Pages: 31
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Toward the Development of an Elementary Teacher's Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument.
Riggs, Iris M.; Enochs, Larry G.
Data indicate that although science is required of all students in elementary school, elementary teachers do not usually teach science as a high priority or in a way that enhances student achievement. A myriad of possible causes for existing voids in this teaching process have been suggested by researchers. Teacher belief systems have been neglected as a possible contributor to behavior patterns which affect science teaching, therefore its investigation is vital to a more complete understanding of teacher behavior. This publication reports on a pilot and a major study in which the combined Personal Science Teaching Efficacy Belief scale and the Science Teaching Outcome Expectancy scale instrument (STEBI) was administered to measure self-efficacy or outcome expectancy. Results of a plot graph illustrated two homogeneous scales for the try-out study. Results of the major study indicate that the STEBI is a valid and reliable tool for studying elementary teacher's beliefs toward science teaching and learning. References, means and standard deviations, corrected item-total scale correlations and factor loadings, factor plot of final factor analysis results, demographic characteristics, final scales, validity coefficients, and scoring instructions for the STEBI are included. (RT)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Educational Research, Elementary Education, Elementary School Science, Elementary School Teachers, Instructional Effectiveness, Science Instruction, Teacher Behavior, Teacher Characteristics, Teacher Effectiveness, Teacher Expectations of Students, Teacher Influence, Test Construction
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Researchers; Teachers; Administrators; Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (62nd, San Francisco, CA, March 30-April 1, 1989).