Teacher behaviour: a determinant of student self esteem

Abstract

This small scale piece of research was undertaken to establish whether there existed a relationship between teacher behaviour and the reported self esteem inventories of four students. Using a low inference category system for rating teacher behaviour the researcher's behaviour was observed and categorised by an independent rater. The students were asked to complete Coopersmith's (1967) modified self-esteem inventory both before and after each teaching session. Following the first teaching session, the remaining two, in terms of teacher behaviour, were experimentally manipulated. A repeated measures design was utilised, in order to reduce confounding variables in subjects. Results have been analysed using the 'T' test to calculate statistical significance between 'Pre' and 'Post' inventory scores of students. The paper clearly shows the need for the researcher to remain sensitive to experimental design when undertaking small scale research.