An Analysis of Perceptions of Teachers and Administrators Toward Various Incentive Programs
An Analysis of Perceptions of Teachers and Administrators Toward Various Incentive Programs
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Date
1989
Authors
Ether, Maureen T.
Advisor
Dudley, James
Citation
Abstract
Many individuals and national reports on education support the view that
current teacher rewards and benefits are not supportive enough of our efforts to
attract and retain high quality teachers in the profession. The purpose of this
study was to review the various alternative incentive programs applicable to the
teaching profession and, through the use of a survey instrument, gather
information regarding the attitudes and perceptions of teachers and
administrators in the rural/suburban county being studied. The findings have
implications for the design and implementation of an incentive program in many
school systems.
Specifically, this study sought answers to four questions, based upon the
following respondent characteristics: a. teacher or administrator; b. male or
female; c. age group; d. elementary, middle or high school assignment; and e.
years of teaching experience. The questions were:
1. Are there statistically significant mean differences in perceptions held
on the issue of merit pay based upon the respondent characteristics?
2. Are there statistically significant mean differences in perceptions held
on the issue of career ladders based upon the respondent
characteristics?
3. Are there statistically significant mean differences in perceptions held
on the issue of mentor teaching based upon the respondent
characteristics?
4. Are there statistically significant mean differences in perceptions held
on the issue of changes in the work environment based upon the
respondent characteristics?
The perceptions of the teachers and administrators who were the subjects
of this study were gathered through the use of a modified 1986 Louis Harris
survey, "Restructuring the Profession." The survey instruments were distributed
to 1,100 teachers and administrators of a single large suburban/rural school
system. The statistical analysis indicated that perceptions of respondents clearly
were more favorable toward the incentive area changes in the work environment
than they were toward the other three incentives--career ladders, mentor
teaching and merit pay. Additionally, although respondent perceptions were
highly unfavorable to these three incentives, statistically significant differences in
perceptions were found among some respondent group characteristics. In 3 of
the 4 incentive areas--career ladders, merit pay and mentor teaching--
administrators had statistically significantly more favorable responses than
teachers. The findings also indicate that males had statistically significantly more
favorable responses than females in 2 of the 4 incentive areas--career ladders
and merit pay. The only incentive area that resulted in highly favorable
perceptions from all the respondents was changes in the work environment.
From these highly favorable responses, a statistically significant difference was
found based on gender. Females' perceptions toward changes in the work
environment were significantly higher than those of males.