The Relationship Between the Attitudes of Directors and Instructors and Student Ratings in Remedial and Developmental Studies in Tennessee's Community Colleges

• Main Author: Brown, Carolyn H.
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 1991
• Subjects: Community colleges; Education; Higher education; Remedial studies; Special education; Community College Education Administration; Community College Leadership; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration; Special Education and Teaching
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2643; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4034&context=etd

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed between the attitudes of remedial and developmental directors and instructors and student ratings. A population of 230 full-time directors and instructors and 3,269 remedial students were surveyed in the Fall of 1990. The return rate was 95% for the directors and instructors with the student rate dependent upon instructors administering the instruments. Two instruments were developed--one to measure the attitudes of directors and instructors and one for student ratings of instructors. Seven null hypotheses were formulated; 5 were retained and 2 rejected, at the.05 level of significance. Factor analysis identified four student factors and six director and instructor factors. The Pearson r was used to test for relationships in hypotheses 1 through 4, with 24 possible correlations on each hypothesis. The t-test was used to test for differences in hypotheses 5 through 7. Even though findings revealed a low percentage of correlations, significant relationships were found on several factors. A relationship existed between student ratings and instructor willingness to provide extra assistance, and demonstrating a nurturing, caring concern for students. Students and instructors viewed a sense of 'belongingness' and being an integral part of the college environment as an important factor. Directors and instructors who held strong, egalitarian philosophies believed in open door policies. A difference did not exist between student ratings of faculty who taught remedial and developmental courses only and fully-integrated faculty. A significant difference was found in student ratings of instructors based on age. Differences were noted in the areas of instructor concern, course value, and classroom adaptations among students older than 24.