A study of the effects of urban laboratory experiences on the attitudes and self concepts of undergraduate students

• Main Author: Cooperman, Bryna Ruth
• Other Authors: Hochstetler, Ruth J.
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Interns (Education); Self-perception.; Interaction analsis in education.; Attitude (Psychology)
• Online Access: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/175620; http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/414499

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were differences in attitudes and perceptions between students enrolled in the curriculum component of an urban elementary teacher education program at the State University College at Buffalo, New York, and a comparable group of students enrolled in the curriculum component of the regular elementary teacher education program in relation to self and selected aspects of the urban environment. The study also attempted to identify experiences which the students in the experimental group perceived as effecting changes in self concept, understanding of self and others, and perceptions of the urban child, school, and community.The subjects for this study included an experimental group of twenty-five students whose professional laboratory experience took place in urban schools and a control group whose laboratory experience took place in suburban schools. The control group was selected from students who had no urban experience. Weekly curriculum seminars in elementary education were conducted with both groups.Two instruments were used to collect data. The Self Concept Inventory was administered to students before and after the experience. The Opinions About Target Area Schools was administered at the completion of the experience. In addition, students in the experimental group were interviewed.The statistical treatment applied to the quantitative data was the t-test between correlated means to determine significance of differences within each group and independent t-tests to determine significant differences between groups. Quotations obtained from the interviews provided qualitative data relating to self concept, understanding and awareness of self and others, and attitudes toward selected aspects of the urban environment.From the analysis of data, the following conclusions were presented:1. Students having an urban laboratory experience had more positive views of the inner city than students who did not have an urban experience. These views were influenced by interpersonal relationships and experiences within the urban community and by college seminars dealing with personal feelings, attitudes and understandings.2. Teacher preparation programs developed to provide preservice teachers with urban experiences can make a positive difference in the attitudes of these students toward the urban environment.3. By establishing an inconsistency between what students believed to be true prior to the urban experience and what they, in fact, experienced, it appeared that it was possible to alter or modify student attitudes.4. Students reported increased awareness, understanding, and/or acceptance of cultures other than their own, following the urban experience.5. Students identified experiences which contributed to positive change in their attitudes and to their growth as future teachers.6. Students who had professional laboratory experience in urban areas expressed a preference for teaching in urban schools, in contrast to students who did not have this experience.7. Both groups tended to have more positive views of self on the posttest, though only the experimental group showed significant gains on the total test. However, when these gain scores were compared with the gain scores of the control group, there was no significant difference between groups. The experience of working with children in either setting may have positively influenced attitudes toward self.8. The establishment of programs designed and implemented to prepare teachers for urban areas are desirable, feasible, and necessary.