The educational orientations of occupational-technical educators

Abstract

The purpose of this study was threefold: ( 1) To determine the educational orientations of post-secondary occupational-technical instructors; (2) To determine the interpersonal behaviors of post-secondary occupational-technical instructors; and (3) To examine the proposed relationship between interpersonal behaviors, demographic variables, and education. orientations of occupational-technical educators.

The study sample consisted of 132 occupational-technical. educators located in the four technical institutes of Tennessee. Career divisions represented in the sample were: business science, computer science, engineering science, and health science.

Instrumentation included the Educational Orientation Questionnaire ([ EOQ ], Radley, 1975) which measured andragogical-pedagogical beliefs and practices. The Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation Behavior Science ([ FIRO-B ], Schutz, 1967) identified teachers’ interpersonal interaction behaviors. In addition to the primary instruments, a survey form was used to collect demographic data concerning the sex, age, average class size, years of schooling, and years of occupational in£ormation. The primary data analysis used were descriptive and multiple regression. The findings were:

1. Occupational-technical instructors in Tennessee technical institutes are more pedagogical in educational orientation than similar occupational groups studied.

2. Occupational-technical instructors in Tennessee technical institutes exhibit interpersonal scores which suggest that as a group they are selective about the persons with whom they associate; they prefer not being controlled and not exercising control over others; and they have a moderate need to be liked by others.

3. The relationship between interpersonal behaviors, demographic variables, and educational orientation is doulinated by one's age, expressed control, sex, and years of schooling. The relationship between interpersonal behavior and demographic variables and education. orientation varies from school to school.

4. While the proposed relationship between variables of interpersonal behavior, demographic variables, and education orientation was found, the study's demographic variables tended to account for more variance in educational orientation.