Cognitive constructs of students who demonstrate problem behaviors towards their teachers: A repertory grid study

This study aims to identify cognitive constructs of students who demonstrate problem behaviors towards their teachers and reveal how ideally they see their teachers. The participants of the study were teachers who worked in a private school and 10 year-old students who attended 4th grade. Before the participant students were identified, the teachers were administered "Unwanted Behavior Screening/Survey" list, and thus 30 students who demonstrated problem behaviors were identified based on the teachers' views. Following this, 26 teachers who taught 4th graders were administered the Liking of Children Scale and Teacher Efficacy Scale, and their raw score was obtained. In the final stage of the research, Repertory Grid method was utilized in order to reveal cognitive constructs of students who demonstrated problem behaviors towards their teachers. Data were analyzed using Idiogrid, which is a computer-based data analysis program. Research model is a quantitative case analysis in idiographic style (prioritizing content validity). The study aims, teachers' Euclidean distance coefficient to the ideal teacher, to reveal personal constructs used for ideal-nonideal teachers, and ideal/non ideal teachers' scores from both the Liking of Children Scale and Teacher Efficacy Scale. Results show that although students who demonstrated problem behaviors generally saw their teacher as ideal, only 4 student participants had one to one match of their teacher with the ideal teacher element. Generally, the constructs used for ideal teachers had the love theme, and the teacher's affective component aspect was emphasized more. An analysis of the scale results of teachers who were seen ideal showed that the Liking of Children Scale results were high, but the Teacher Efficacy Scale results were found to vary. Six of the participating students saw their teacher as nonideal. In line with this, the constructs used for these students were found to be represented with negative personality features. Nonideal teachers' scale results showed that the Liking of Children Scale results were low, but the Teacher Efficacy Scale results were similarly found to vary. Results showed that students who demonstrated problem behaviors saw the teachers who communicated with them positively and who loved them as ideal; ideal teachers' Liking of Children Scale scores were high, and nonideal teachers' Liking of Children Scale scores were low. In conclusion, children's priority seemed to be the need for love rather than field proficiency or professional expertise. Key Words: Repertory Grid Technique, Problem behavior, ideal teacher, Liking of Children Scale, Teacher Efficacy Scale