ERIC Number: EJ1013931
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Apr
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0313-5373
EISSN: N/A
Pre-Service Secondary Teachers' Attitudes towards Inclusive Education
Costello, Shane; Boyle, Christopher
Australian Journal of Teacher Education, v38 n4 Article 8 Apr 2013
The attitudes held by pre-service teachers have been shown to affect their willingness and ability to implement an inclusive approach to education. A sample consisting of 193 pre-service secondary teachers enrolled in secondary education courses at an Australian university were surveyed to determine their attitudes towards inclusive education, with a particular focus on attitudinal changes across the years of study. Results indicated that pre-service secondary teachers held positive attitudes towards inclusive
education; however there was a significant decline in positive attitudes through the years of study. Pre-service secondary teachers enrolled in postgraduate programs were more inclusive than those enrolled in undergraduate courses. Attitudes towards training and perceived competence were less positive than other attitude scales for all participants, suggesting a concern regarding training effectiveness. Replication of the study is recommended across additional Australian and international universities to determine differences in training content and experiences which may impact on attitudes towards training and perceived competence. (Contains 4 tables and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Student Teacher Attitudes, Preservice Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Foreign Countries, Attitude Measures, Inclusion, Disabilities, Regular and Special Education Relationship, Positive Attitudes, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Competence, Teacher Education, Surveys
Edith Cowan University. Bradford Street, Mount Lawley, West Australia 6050, Australia. Web site: http://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A