the iafor

journal of
education
Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017
Editor: Bernard Montoneri

ISSN: 2187-0594

IAFOR Journal of Education
Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

IAFOR Publications

The International Academic ForumIAFOR Journal of Education
EditorBernard Montoneri, National Chengchi University, Taiwan
Co-editor
Lucy K. Spence, University of South Carolina, United States of America
Associate Editors
Yvonne Masters, University of New England, Australia
Massoud Moslehpour, Asia University, Taiwan

Published by The International Academic Forum (IAFOR), Japan
IAFOR Publications, Sakae 1-16-26-201, Naka-ward, Aichi, Japan 460-0008

Executive Editor: Joseph Haldane
Layout: Bernard Montoneri

IAFOR Journal of Education
Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017
Published September 1, 2017

IAFOR Publications © Copyright 2017
Individual articles are published under theCreative Commons 4.0 Attribution Non Commercial International licence.
ISSN: 2187-0594
ije.iafor.org

Cover Image: Pixabay/YEYEQINQIN

IAFOR Journal of Education
Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017
Edited by Dr Bernard Montoneri	
  Table of Contents
Notes on Contributors

1

IAFOR Journal of Education Editors and Reviewers

4

Editors’ Introduction
Bernard Montoneri, Lucy Spence, Yvonne Masters and Massoud Moslehpour

23

Measurement and Analysis of Student (Dis)engagementin Higher Education: A Preliminary Study
Akihiro Saito and Michael E. Smith

29

Discourses on Empowerment in Adult Learning: A View on
Renewed Learning
Luisa Daniele

49

Factors Affecting Teachers’ Perceived Proficiency
in Using ICT in the Classroom
Prema Basargekar and Chandan Singhavi

67

The Dynamics of Decentralization of Higher Education Delivery
and Local Politics in the Philippines: The Case of Two Mandaue
City Colleges in Cebu Province
Ronald A. Pernia

87

Sense of Belonging at School: Defining Attributes,
Determinants, and Sustaining Strategies
Jerome St-Amand, Stéphanie Girard and Jonathan Smith

105

Friends with Benefits: Causes and Effects of Learners’ Cheating
Practices During Examination
Leo Andrew B. Diego

121

Self-Efficacy Reduces Impediments to Classroom Discussion
for International Students: Fear, Embarrassment, Social Isolation,
Judgment, and Discrimination
Junko Maeda

141

Politician-Turned-Doctoral Student’s Narrative Identity
at an Australian University: A Case Study
Singhanat Nomnian

161

Hearts Grow: Contemplative Learning for Inner Stability
Development in Female Prison Inmates
Somsit Asdornnithee and Proetphan Daensilp

179White Teachers’ Reactions to the Racial Treatmentof Middle-School Black Boys
Stefan Battle

197

Guide for Authors

219

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Notes on Contributors
Dr Somsit Asdornnithee is a lecturer at the Contemplative Education Center, Mahidol
University, Thailand. He received his BSc in food technology from Chulalongkorn University
in 1988, his MA in agriculture from Ehime University, Japan in 1991, and his PhD in 1995
from the same university. He also undertook an MA in contemplative education andtransformative learning at Mahidol University, graduating in 2011.
Dr Prema Basargekar works as an associate professor in the areas of economics andentrepreneurship at K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai,
India. She has been an academic for more than 20 years. She received her PhD from BITS
Pilani, India, in the area of impact assessment of microfinance programmes. Her researchinterests are the application of ICT in education, women’s entrepreneurship, microfinance,social entrepreneurship and impact assessment of social programmes.
Dr Proetphan Daensilp is a lecturer at the Contemplative Education Center, Mahidol
University, Thailand. She received her BEd from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, in 1998;
an MA in Counseling Psychology from Chulalongkorn University in 2001, and a PhD from
Chulalongkorn University in 2007. Before beginning at the Contemplative Education Center,
Proetphan practiced as a counseling psychologist (2001to present), and worked as a lecturer at
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Thailand, 2007–2008.
Dr Luisa Daniele works for the National Agency for Active Labour Market Policies(ANPAL), Italy. She specialises in adult learning and has collaborated or coordinated many
research efforts on this issue, relating to the Italian system of adult learning, as well as incomparison with other European countries. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Sciencefrom the Sapienza University of Rome and a PhD in Adult Learning – Evaluation of Vocational
Education and Training Systems from Roma Tre University, Italy, and Paris X – Nanterre
University, France (co-tutorship), with a thesis on “Lifelong learning and University.
Individuation and validation of prior learning in France and in Italy” (2010).
Leo Andrew B. Diego is one the authors of a book titled Modernizing Frontier (2017),
published by the University of Amsterdam and the University of the Philippines and funded by
the European Research Council. He earned units in Master of Science in Industrial Psychology
and Master of Arts in Social Sciences Education at Holy Trinity University, Philippines. He iscurrently a Senior High School Faculty member teaching Qualitative and Quantitative researchand Introduction to Philosophy at Roxas National Comprehensive High School, Philippines.
He was previously a university instructor at Palawan State University, Philippines, for three
years. Born in Roxas, Palawan, Philippines, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
at Seminario de San Jose, Palawan, Philippines. He is also presently involved in the Chemical
Youth research team spearheaded by Professor Anita Hardon of the University of Amsterdam
and Dr Michael Tan, University Chancellor of the University of the Philippines. His field ofinterest is research, particularly in education, social sciences, medical anthropology,
philosophy of man, network marketing and social media.
Dr Stéphanie Girard is a professor in the Human Kinetics Department of the Université duQuébec à Trois-Rivières, Canada. After obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Special Educationin High School, for eight years she taught adolescents experiencing various behavioural issues.
During this period, she completed a MA and a PhD in Educational Psychology of Physical
Education at the Université de Montréal, Canada. Her research programme seeks to support

1

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

the motivation of students in physical education and physical activity, taking into account their
special educational needs.
Junko Maeda completed a Master of Arts in Communication degree at the University ofSouthern Indiana, USA. She is currently a part-time lecturer teaching English andCommunication at the Center of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Hachinohe Institute of Technology,
Japan, starting in 2015. Her research interests are intercultural communication, multicultural
education, promotion of discussion within the classroom in Japan, and English education in
Japan. She had the opportunity to present her paper at the US National Communication
Association (NCA) 102nd Annual Convention in Philadelphia in 2016.
Dr Singhanat Nomnian is an associate professor of English at the Research Institute for
Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, Thailand. He completed an EdD TESOL
and Applied Linguistics degree at the University of Leicester, UK, and Advanced Specialist
Certificate in Language Assessment at RELC Singapore. He was an Endeavour Postdoctoral
Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. His research interests include
Global Englishes, ESP, EAP, intercultural communication, multilingualism, metrolingualism
and sociolinguistics. One of his recent publications is entitled Thai Postgraduate Students’
Positioning in Multilingual Classrooms (LAP Lambert Academic Publishing). He also serves
as a Thailand TESOL executive committee member.
Ronald A. Pernia is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the
University of the Philippines Cebu. He obtained his Master of Education (Social Studies)degree from the University of the Philippines Cebu in 2015. His areas of interest include thepolitics of education, decentralization of higher education, local politics and governance, andmultiple streams analysis in policy studies.
Dr Akihiro Saito is a lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Hakuoh University, Japan. His
research interests include pedagogy, attitudes and identity in language learning, education
policy, and discourse theory. He is currently an editorial board member of Dialogic Pedagogy
Journal. Meanwhile, he serves as a reviewer for System (Elsevier), The Asia-Pacific Education
Researcher (Springer), and Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics. His articles have appearedin International Journal of Applied Linguistics (Wiley-Blackwell), System (Elsevier), andInternational Journal of Pedagogies and Learning (Taylor & Francis). He is the recipient of
the 2016 Japanese Association of Qualitative Psychology International Research andCollaboration Promotion Award.
Professor Chandan Singhavi works as Systems & IT faculty at K. J. Somaiya Institute ofManagement Studies and Research, Mumbai, India. She has 17 years of academic experience.
She is pursuing her PhD in the area of Use of ICT in Education from ITM University, India.
Her areas of interest are ICT in education, ERP and Data Analytics.
Jonathan Smith is a professor in Educational Psychology at Université du Québec en AbitibiTémiscamingue, Canada. He has recently submitted his thesis focusing on the development ofmotivation to learn in the context of primary to secondary school transition. Alongside thewriting of his thesis, he also participated in initiatives aiming to document the potential benefitsof educational measures and interventions on motivational and psychosocial dimensions.
Michael E. Smith is an assistant professor at Aomori University of Health and Welfare, Japan.
Drawn to Japan after completing his undergraduate work in education at the University of2

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Alberta in Canada, he has enjoyed living and teaching in Japan for over a dozen years.
Michael’s research interests include issues related to globalization and education in Japan, as
well as content-based and immersive approaches to foreign language education and the rolethat these may play in Japan in the future.
Dr Jérome St-Amand is an assistant professor of Educational Psychology at the Universitédu Québec en Outaouais (UQO), Canada, and the assistant editor for the McGill Journal of
Education. Prior to joining UQO, he was an assistant professor at the University of Alberta,
Canada, from 2015 to 2017. He completed his PhD and his MA at the Université de Montréal,
Canada, in Educational Psychology, a Bachelor of Education (BEd) at Concordia University,
Canada, and a Psychology Degree at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR),
Canada. Between 2001 and 2014 he spent 12 years teaching high school in the public system
in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. His research activities explore a variety of issues related
to classroom management, school motivation, students’ basic needs, school effectiveness,leadership and improvement, quantitative methods, and education in developing countries.

3

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

IAFOR Journal of Education Editors and Reviewers
Editors
Editor: Dr Bernard Montoneri
National Chengchi University, Taiwan
Bernard Montoneri earned his PhD (African, Arab, and Asian Words; History, Languages,
Literature) and his BA in Chinese from the University of Provence, Aix-Marseille I, France.
He has taught Literature (European, French, Children, American, and British) and languages(French, English, and Italian) for two decades. He has studied eight languages, including
Sanskrit, and has obtained eight university diplomas. He is, as of August 1, 2017, an Associate
Professor in the Department of European Languages and Cultures, at National Chengchi
University, Taipei, Taiwan. He has around 50 publications, including journal papers,
conferences papers, and books. He is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the IAFOR Journalof Education. His research interests include French literature, children's literature, translation
studies, French and English writing, automated scoring systems, teaching and learning
evaluation, data envelopment analysis, networking, and teaching methods. He is a reviewer for
top academic journals and has obtained more than 20 teaching and research grants.
Email: ije@iafor.org; montoneri@yahoo.com
ResearchGate: www.researchgate.net/profile/Bernard_Montoneri
Co-editor: Dr Lucy K. Spence
University of South Carolina, USA
Lucy K. Spence received her PhD in Curriculum & Instruction from Arizona State University,
USA in 2006 and her BS in teaching from Grand Canyon University in 1989. She has taught
multilingual students since 1989. She is currently an associate professor in the College of
Education at the University of South Carolina, USA. Her current research interests are teacher
perceptions of multilingual student writing, bilingual education, and writing instruction in
Japan and the USA. In 2013, she was invited to Kansai University in Osaka, Japan as a visiting
researcher, and then returned for a sabbatical research project in 2015. Her book on student
writing was published in 2014. She has published articles in national and international journals
and reviews books and articles for top journals related to her interest area, such as Teacher'sCollege Record, Language Arts, and English Education.
Email: lucyspence@sc.edu
Associate Editor: Dr Yvonne Masters
University of New England, Australia
Yvonne Masters is currently an Adjunct Senior Lecturer with the University of New England,
NSW, Australia. She has been a teacher and teacher educator for 40 years and is passionate
about education. She was a senior lecturer in Professional Classroom Practice in the School of
Education, UNE, a position that she accepted after five years as Director of Professional
Experience in the same School. Prior to taking up her position at UNE, she had 30 years'
experience in secondary schools including in the roles of Curriculum Coordinator, Deputy
Principal and Principal, roles that developed her skills in leadership, project management,
curriculum and assessment. Her teaching experience spans three Australian states. Her researchinterests centre on teacher education and policy, professional experience, teacher identity,

4

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

online learning and virtual worlds, with a particular focus on distance education students.
Yvonne was awarded her PhD, focused on school principalship, from Deakin University. She
is an active researcher and has gained, in collaboration with other researchers, 4 Internal Schoolof Education Research grants. She has been a partner in a $200,000 ALTC (OLT) grant,
VirtualPREX: Innovative assessment using a 3D virtual world with pre-service teachers, in2014 achieved a UNE Seed Grant for a one year project to explore teacher quality, and in 2015
gained a $50,000 OLT seed grant to develop resources to assist pre-service teachers to gain
online teaching skills to assist them in teaching wholly online into virtual schools. She serves
as a reviewer for several journals and is a senior reviewer for IAFOR conferences. She is alsoa co-chair of the Asian Undergraduate Research Symposium, run alongside IAFOR's annual
ACE conference. She is currently expanding her research into the impact of undergraduate
research and she presents on both teacher education policy and online teaching at a range ofconferences, both Australian and international.
Email: yfmasters@gmail.com
Associate Editor: Dr Massoud Moslehpour
Asia University, Taiwan
Massoud Moslehpour is an intercollegiate educator working as an assistant professor of
Business Administration and Foreign Languages at Asia University, Taiwan. He received his
Doctorate of Philosophy from University of Missouri-Columbia, USA, in Industrial
Technology (Support Areas: Higher and Adult Education, Curriculum Development, andSpanish Language). His major areas of interests are Marketing, Management, Quantitative
Analysis, Cross-Cultural Studies and Foreign Language Teaching. During the past 15 years he
has written several textbooks, to name a few: Internet English, Culture through Movies,
English Presentation Skills and one on TOEIC preparation. He has also published several
journal articles in various international peer-reviewed journals in the areas of Purchase
Intention, Customer Satisfaction, Customer Loyalty, Corporate Culture, English Teaching andInternet Addiction.
Email: writetodrm@gmail.com

5

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Members of the Editorial Board
Dr Cassandra Atherton, Alfred Deakin Research Institute, Australia
Cassandra Atherton is an award-winning writer, critic and senior lecturer at the Alfred Deakin
Research Institute. She has a Harvard Visiting Scholar's position from August 2015 to
September 2016 to work on a project concerning public intellectuals in academe. A Visiting
Fellow at Sophia University, Tokyo in 2014 and an affiliate of the Monash Japanese Studies
Centre in 2015, Cassandra is currently working on a book analyzing Miyazaki Hayao’s anime.
Cassandra has published 8 books and was invited to be on the judging panel of the VictorianPremier's Literary Awards, Prize for Poetry in 2015.
Email: cassandra.atherton@deakin.edu.au
Vasileios Paliktzoglou, University of Eastern Finland, Finland & Bahrain Polytechnic,
Bahrain
Vasileios Paliktzoglou has several years of experience in universities such as the University of
Pisa, the Aegean University, Robert Gordon University, Mediterranean University College andthe University of Wales having an active role as: Researcher, Tutor, Supervisor, Lecturer andProgramme Manager. He is active in research with papers presented at international
conferences, and published at academic journals. His research interests are in the fields ofsocial media, web 2.0, communities of practices, e-learning in which he is actively involved inseveral international research projects. He is currently a doctoral researcher at the Universityof Eastern Finland and faculty member at Bahrain Polytechnic.
Email: paliktzoglou@gmail.com
Dr Santosh Kumar Behera, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, India
Santosh Kumar Behera is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education, SidhoKanho-Birsha University, India. After completion of a Graduate Degree from Fakir Mohan
University, Orissa, he was admitted to the MA in Education program at Vinaya Bhavana, Visva
Bharati and then did his PhD entitled “An Investigation into the Attitude of SC and ST Childrenof Southern Orissa towards Education” at Vinaya Bhavana. He has also published several
research papers and articles in various journals and edited volumes of national and international
repute across the country. He is the Editor-in-Chief of EDUQUEST: An International Refereed
Journal in Education, International Journal of Academic Research in Education and Review
and Academic Research Journal of History and Culture (ARJHC).
Email: santoshbehera.jkc@gmail.com
Dr Yilin Chen, Providence University, Taiwan
Yilin Chen (PhD in Drama and Theatre, Royal Holloway, University of London) is an
Associate Professor at the Department of English Language, Literature and Linguistics,
Providence University in Taiwan. Her current research interests are the global disseminationof Japanese manga Shakespeare and the representation of gender and sexuality in manga
adaptations of Shakespeare.
Email: yc276@yahoo.com
Dr Ivy Chia, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore
Ivy Chia is the Head of Programme (Education) at the School of Human Development andSocial Sciences, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore. She earned her PhD(Education) from the University of Cambridge and her MA (Educational Management andAdministration) from University College London, Institute of Education. Prior to joining
Singapore University of Social Sciences, she headed the Standards and Research Branch at the6

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Academy of Singapore Teachers, Ministry of Education. She is also a trained quality assurance
assessor and had undertaken assessment of private institutions delivering higher education
degree programmes. Her research interests include teaching and learning within the higher
education sector, e-learning and the use of analytics for improving teaching, curriculum andinstruction, work-based learning and quality assurance. She was formerly Editor-in-Chief ofSingapore University of Social Sciences’ in-house scholarship of teaching and learning journal.
Email: ivychiasm@suss.edu.sg
Dr Shiao-Wei Chu, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
Shiao-wei Chu is a creative, hard-working, collaborative, reflective and proficient educator
who loves teaching English language learners of all ages. She is originally from Taichung,Taiwan. She received her doctoral degree (PhD) with an emphasis on creating a new paradigm
in ESL teachers’ professorial development from the College of Education at the University of
Idaho in the fall of 2013. She has her MA in TESOL from Chaoyang University of Technology
in Taichung, Taiwan. Her research focuses are ESL/EFL teaching and learning including
teaching methods, material design and assessment design, and professional development for
English language teachers in both face-to-face and web-based environments. Currently, she is
an assistant professor in Taiwan. She gained experience teaching ESL learners at two intensive
English for Academic Purposes programs in Idaho State, America since 2012 and as a graduateteaching assistant in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Idaho.
She previously taught English in Taiwan for approximately eight years.
Email: shiaowei0819@gmail.com
Dr Luisa Daniele, ANPAL, Italy
Luisa Daniele has worked at ISFOL – the Italian Institute for the Development of Vocational
Training of Workers (institution supervised by the Ministry of Labour) – since 1998. She now
works for the National Agency for Active Labour Market Policies (ANPAL). She specialises
in Adult Learning and has collaborated or coordinated many research efforts on this issue,
relating to the Italian system of Adult Learning, as well as in comparison with other European
Countries. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the Sapienza University ofRome and a PhD in “Adult Learning – Evaluation of Vocational Education and Training
Systems” from Roma Tre University and Paris X – Nanterre University (co-tutorship), with athesis on “Lifelong learning and University. Individuation and validation of prior learning inFrance and in Italy” (2010). She is a reviewer for the SIRD Italian Journal of Educational
Research, a member of the Scientific Committee of BioSelfLab LTD Training Center and
Biographical Project for Employability, and a founding member of the Centre for Research andServices on skills of the Department of Studies on Educational Cultural and Intercultural
Processes in Contemporary Society, Roma Tre University.
Email: luisa.daniele69@gmail.com
Dr Raymond Q. Datuon, Pace Academy, Philippines
Raymond Q. Datuon completed a Bachelor in Secondary Education, majoring in history(2002), at the Philippine Normal University, a Masters in Educational Management (2010) in
Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Open University Systems and a Doctorate in
Educational Management (2013) at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He served as
Executive Officer and volunteer campus minister of Marian Youth Movement in theArchdiocese of Manila. He was appointed as Chief Justice in the Student Government of thePhilippine Normal University 2001–2002. He was full-time Faculty in St. Mary’s Academy of
Caloocan City 2003–2005; he was the School of Education Dean, concurrently the Officer Incharge of the Student Life Office, Head of Faculty and Staff Development Office and Senior

7

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017High School Program in Chiang Kai Shek College (Manila, Philippines) from 2015 to 2017.
He was also appointed as Head of Research, Publication, and Faculty Development Office at
Chiang Kai Shek College from October 2013 to June 2014. At present, he is a Faculty in Pace
Academy and currently Part-Time Assistant Professor Lecturer at the Far Eastern UniversityInstitute of Technology and in Philippine Cultural College. He is a Licensed Secondary
Teacher, President of the PUP-Doctor in Educational Management Society, member of theBoard of Incorporators and PRO-External (2012–2015); Vice-President for Internal Affairs(2015 to present) of Kalipunan ng mga Guro ng Araling Panlipunan, Assistant Treasurer ofUniversity of Santo Tomas-Santisimo Rosario Parish, Member of the Editorial Board ofInternational Economics Development and Research Center (IEDRC), Review for BusinessResearch, and Journal of Educational System; Keynote Speaker at the 3rd International
Conference on Economics and Management (ICEM 2016) and designated as Co-Chair of theInternational Committee Board of the said conference; and International Board Member of The
Institute of Research Engineers and Scientists (The IRES). He served as session chair andpresented his paper at different international research conferences namely in Singapore; Chiang
Mai, Thailand; Hong Kong, China; Beijing, China; San Francisco, USA; Harvard University,
Boston, USA; Timisoara, Romania; Barcelona, Spain; and Shanghai, China. He has been a
consistent recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award at the Far Eastern University-Instituteof Technology since 2011 and an Outstanding Teacher since 2010 at Chiang Kai Shek College.
He was recognised and awarded by the City Government of Manila as one of the 12
Outstanding Private School Educators in 2014.
Email: raymondqdatuon@yahoo.com
Dr Heloísa Orsi Koch Delgado, Pontifical University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Heloísa Orsi Koch Delgado is an English language educator and a translator of scientific
literature. She is the Dean of the Office for International Affairs and an Associate Professor at
the Department of Foreign Languages, which she coordinated for six years. She holds a BA in
Translation Studies (PUCRS) and postgraduate qualifications in Tertiary Education (PUCRS)
and Terminology (University Pompeu Fabra, Spain). She holds a Master degree in Education(PUCRS) and a PhD in Language Studies (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul/UFRGS).
She is a research member in GELCORPSUL (Corpus Linguistics Study Group) and GPEOCS(Olympic Studies and Health Sciences Research Group), contributing mainly in the areas ofterminology and translation. She is the leader of the CorIntEsp research group (Corpora forInterdisciplinary Studies with emphasis on medical terminology) and the coordinator of the
DicTrans Project (Pedagogical Multilingual Online Dictionary about the Bipolar Disorder),partially supported by CNPq and PUCRS. She has published articles in various national andinternational peer-reviewed journals in the areas of Education, Language Teaching,
Terminology and Translation. She has been a member of the Editorial team of HOW – a
Colombian Journal for Teachers of English – for ten years and an invited ad hoc reviewer fornational and international journals of language teaching and related areas. Her major fields ofinterest are internationalization, medical terminology, translation pedagogy andmulticultural/multidisciplinary education.
Email: heloisa.delgado@pucrs.br
Dr Alaster Scott Douglas, University of Roehampton, UK
Alaster Scott Douglas is Assistant Director of Education and a Reader in Education andProfessional Practice. He worked as a teacher and senior manager in four high schools and led
an Expressive Arts faculty before becoming a deputy head teacher in two schools. Having
completed an MA in Education (Publishing), and an MSc in Educational Research
Methodology, Dr Douglas earned a PhD in teacher education from the University of Oxford.

8

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

He is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the United Kingdom and holds a Teaching
Fellowship. He is also Director of the research group Teaching and Learning in Schools at the
University of Roehampton, an associate member of the Oxford Centre for Sociocultural andActivity Theory Research at the University of Oxford. His research interests include culturalhistorical activity theory and developmental work research in general. Current research focuseson universities and schools in the preparation of teachers. He has been the recipient of funded
research projects on the differentiated teaching practices in UK and USA classrooms, therelationship between teaching, learning and research and the education and learning of preservice teachers.
Email: alaster.douglas@roehampton.ac.uk
Dr William C. Frick, University of Oklahoma, USA
William C. Frick is the Rainbolt Family Endowed Presidential Professor of Educational
Leadership and Policy Studies in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at the Universityof Oklahoma, USA. He is the founding director of the Center for Leadership Ethics andChange, an affiliate body of the international Consortium for the Study of Leadership andEthics in Education (CSLEE) of the University Council for Educational Administration(UCEA). He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of School Leadership and is currently
the editor of Values and Ethics in Educational Administration. He is widely published inselective registers and is a former Core Fulbright US Scholar to the Republic of Georgia. His
tripartite scholarly research agenda includes 1) ethics in educational administration, 2) linkages
between school system reform and broader community revitalization efforts, and 3) cultural
studies in education addressing the intersection of identity and schooling.
Email: frick@ou.edu
Professor Beena Giridharan, Curtin University, Malaysia
Beena Giridharan is Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor at Curtin University, Sarawak, Malaysia. In
her role, she reports to the Pro Vice-Chancellor, and provides academic, financial, strategic,
and administrative leadership to Curtin Sarawak, with a particular focus on academic
operational efficiency. Prior to taking on this position, she was Dean for Learning and Teachingat Curtin University, Sarawak, 2011–2016. She attained a doctoral degree in Applied
Linguistics and Education from Curtin University, Western Australia. She has a first class
Master’s degree in English Language and Literature and a first class Bachelor’s Degree in
Science. Her research and academic interests include vocabulary acquisition in ESL,
educational administration and leadership; higher education practices, transnational education,
work-integrated learning, and ethnolinguistic studies in indigenous communities. As a memberof an OLT (Office of Learning and Teaching, Australia) funded a project entitled “Learning
without Borders” she has investigated leadership roles in Trans-National Education (TNE) andinternationalization of the curriculum. She has been a fellow of the Higher Education Researchand Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) since 2006. She mentors aspiring
HERDSA fellows and is a panel assessor for HERDSA fellowship portfolios. She won the2006 Carrick Australian Award for University Teaching, and the 2006 Curtin University,
Australia, Excellence in Teaching and Innovation award. She was a visiting professor at theVirginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA, 2007–2008. She was an
associate editor of the IAFOR Journal of Education, and a reviewer for a number ofinternational journals in higher education. Her publications include a book on Vocabulary
Acquisition Patterns in Adult Tertiary (ESL) Learners (2013), an international handbook on
Transnational Education: Leadership in transnational education and internationalization of thecurriculum, several book chapters, and publications in journals and refereed conferences. She

9IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017is often invited as a keynote speaker and plenary speaker at a number of higher education
conferences regionally and internationally.
Email: beena@curtin.edu.my
Dr Alice Schmidt Hanbidge, Renison University College, University of Waterloo, Canada
Alice Schmidt Hanbidge, Assistant Professor in the Bachelor and Masters degree programs in
the School of Social Work at Renison University College, University of Waterloo, Ontario,
Canada, combines the applied practices of community mental health within an academic setting
to effectively contribute to the advancement of knowledge, research and program delivery. Key
research areas of interest include advancing technology in the teaching of social work,community mental health children’s programming and evaluation, evidence-based group work
methodology, and furthering field education in social work. Alice’s 20-year extensive social
work practice experience includes a specialisation in community mental health that contributes
to her clinical, teaching and research social work interests.
Email: ashanbidge@uwaterloo.ca
Dr Leda Kamenopoulou, University of Roehampton, UK
Leda Kamenopoulou is a senior lecturer in Special and Inclusive Education at the Universityof Roehampton and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She initially trained as ateacher of classics at the University of Athens in Greece. After completing a Master’s degreein Special Educational Needs from the Graduate School of Education at the University ofBristol, she obtained a PhD in SEN and inclusion from the Institute of Education, Universityof London. Her doctoral thesis focused on the social outcomes of mainstream inclusive
education for young people with a dual sensory impairment. She has worked as a research
associate, research fellow, research advisor and visiting lecturer at the University of London
and other United Kingdom-based academic Institutions. Her research expertise is in systematic
literature reviews, qualitative, mixed methods and evaluation research designs, participatory
research with children and young people, and sensory/multi-sensory and emotional needs.
Email: leda.Kamenopoulou@roehampton.ac.uk
Dr Marcel Lebrun, Plymouth State University, USA
Marcel Lebrun is a professor at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, USA. He is the
Chair of the Department for Educational Leadership, Learning and Curriculum, which includes
all graduate programmes that lead to Master’s, CAGS and EdD degrees. He obtained his PhD
at the University of San Jose and his Med at the University of Manitoba. He has 39 years’
experience in Education. He has published 13 books, over 40 articles and presented throughout
the world on issues in Special Education, Ethical Leadership and Advocacy, Social Justice andMental Health issues in students. He travels extensively and he has visited 89 countries
worldwide. His quest is to bring awareness and strategies of mental health issues to the school
system as well as in society. It is only in building awareness that we can empower adults andeducators to give children a different experience than what they would normally get. Change
can happen and will happen if we become advocates to empower all students worldwide.
Email: mrlebrun@plymouth.edu
Eddy Li, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Eddy Li received his initial teaching training from Hong Kong and Cambridge. Before
rejoining The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2012 as a Lecturer in its English Language
Teaching Unit, he had worked in secondary schools as a teacher of English and English
Literature. Since 2007, Eddy has served as an Examiner in various public examinations
administered by the Hong Kong Examination and Assessment Authority. In 2014, he was

10

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

appointed by the Hong Kong Education Bureau as a professional member of a territory-wide
review panel. His research interests include inclusive pedagogy in Confucian-heritage Culture,
eLearning strategies, professional craft knowledge, and second language teacher education. He
is particularly interested in constructing/deconstructing the cultural model of inclusion, andexploring how quality education for all could be fostered in Chinese communities.
Email: eddyli@cantab.net
Jillian Marchant, James Cook University, Australia
Jillian Marchant holds a Master’s in Public Administration with a major in Policy and is a PhD
candidate at the School of Education, James Cook University, Australia. She is the author ofseveral articles that seek to appreciate the unfolding association between increasingly
accessible formal adult learning and social development in remote and sparsely populatedareas. As a resident of relatively isolated community with a low population density, she remains
committed to exploring the ways in which adult tertiary education may be facilitated toassistant the inhabitants of these fragile areas. She is an invited ad hoc reviewer for Australianeducation conferences as well as recently contributing as an associate editor at Common
Ground Publishing. Her research interests include the impact of adult education on the life
chances of individuals and other practices that interrupt social and political stratification.
Email: jillian.marchant@my.jcu.edu.au
Dr Dave E. Marcial, College of Computer Studies, Dumaguete City, Philippines
Dave Marcial holds various positions in many professional organizations in the Philippines.
He is the founder of the Society for ICT in Teacher Education (ICT4TEd) in the Philippines.
He is the founding president of the ICT Association of Dumaguete & Negros Oriental (ICTDgte), Philippines. Formerly, he is President of the Philippine Society of IT Educators (PSITE)
and Board Secretary of the Computing Society of the Philippines (CSP). He is currently Boardof Trustee of the Philippine e-Learning Society (PeLS). He is also member of the TechnicalCommittee for Information Technology of the Philippine Commission on Higher Education.
His research interest lies in e-learning, local knowledge computing, and information systems
where he has been the recipient of some local, national and international research grants. Dr
Marcial is the dean of the College of Computer Studies, Dumaguete City, Philippines.
Email: demarcial@su.edu.ph
Dr Richard Mather, Buckinghamshire New University, United Kingdom
Richard Mather is a Course Leader in the Department of Computing where he teaches software
engineering and co-leads research in Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL). He holds
postgraduate qualifications in software engineering (MSc, Oxford) and in environmental
sciences (DPhil, Oxford; MSc, UCNW). His pedagogic research and PhD supervision include
adaptive assessment practices, technologies and collaborative behaviours for learning
computer science subjects. For the past twenty years he has also provided services to education,
governments and industry concerning the development and use of Geographical Information
Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing for environmental management. In 2010 he was awarded
The Institution of Analysts and Programmers Prize for Software Engineering after developinga system to automate vegetation mapping from aerial imagery. His geospatial project outputs
provide a rich source of case studies for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
Email: richard.mather@bucks.ac.uk
Dr Alyson Miller, Deakin University, Australia
Alyson Miller is a writer, critic and scholar from Geelong, Australia. Her research focuses onscandalous literature, and the representation of freaks in literary and popular texts, as well as

11

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

gender, feminism, postmodernism, and dystopian Young Adult fiction. Alyson’s work has been
published extensively in national and international journals, alongside two books: a literary
monograph, titled Haunted by Words: Scandalous Texts, and a collection of prose poems,
Dream Animals. A 2015–17 Victorian Arts Council grant is funding her most current project,a graphic novel/prose poem collection examining a post-atomic Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland in collaboration with Cassandra Atherton and Phil Day. She currently teaches
literary studies, and professional and creative writing at Deakin University.
Email: alyson.miller@deakin.edu.au
Dr Suja R. Nair, Independent Researcher, India
Suja R. Nair holds BA (Hons) and MBA degrees, as well as a PhD in Retail Marketing, from
Jain University, Bengaluru, India. Currently, she is a Strategic Marketing Consultant at Educe
Micro Research, Bengaluru. Her working experience spanning over two decades includes
about 18 years with the industry and 4 years in active academics. She has been a prolific writer
since 1999 having written many textbooks in the areas of Marketing Research, Consumer
Behavior, Retail Management and Organizational Behavior published by Himalaya Publishing
House, Mumbai, India. Her chapter contributions have been published by well acclaimed
international publishers such IGI Global and Palgrave Macmillan. A reviewer for international
journals and books, she has papers published in referred Indian journals and top international
journal, Inderscience Publishers, to her credit. Her major fields of interest include Ethics,
Education management, Retail marketing and Consumer Behaviour.
Email: sujarnair269@gmail.com
Dr Catalino N. Mendoza, Our Lady of Fatima University, Philippines
Catalino N. Mendoza is an academic consultant, module designer and developer, writer,
professor/lecturer, research editor and thesis and dissertation consultant. He has to his credit
almost two doctorate degrees – Doctor of Management Science and Doctor of Philosophy in
Human Resource Management, and is a candidate for Doctor of Business Administration. He
was an HR, Management, and Effective Communication consultant (both in government andprivate companies) was formerly the Coordinator, Head, and College Dean of CBA, MBA,
MBBA, MBBHRM, PhD, and PhDBM in various colleges and universities in the Philippinesand visiting professor/lecturer both in the graduate and undergraduate schools. He also served
as resource speaker, panel discussant and participants in various seminars in the graduate andundergraduate programmes and in the government and private agencies/companies both local
and international. He is also an awardee in the 2009 International Business and Economics
Research and International Teaching and Learning Research Conferences held in Las Vegas,
Nevada, United States, October 5–7, 2009 and published books entitled Human Resource
Management Practices in the Philippines and Phenomenological Study of Philippine Womenat Forty in Germany by Lambert Academic Publishing Company in August 2012 and August
2013, respectively. He is a former Director for Publications, Research, Linkages and Liaisonand professor in the graduate school, college of business and accountancy, college ofengineering and college of tourism and hospitality management and college of education in the
University of Batangas, Philippines. He is now working at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences inboth Graduate and Undergraduate programs, is a member of the ISO Internal Audit Team, andChair of the Ethics Committee on Research Development and Innovation Center of Our Lady
of Fatima University, Pampanga Campus, Philippines.
Email: catfish3789@yahoo.com

12

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Dr Ilana Ronen, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Ilana Ronen earned her PhD in Science Education from Tel Aviv University. Following five
years of biochemistry research focusing on bile acid synthesis and recovery of hepatic
clearance in the rat liver, she began her educational career. She headed the excellent program
and the Science specialisation at Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and Arts. She
established communities of learners as part of service learning and led changes in the practiceof pre-service students in line with the PDS model. As a member of the science faculty, she isteaching physics and chemistry courses and supervising M.Ed students who conduct researchin environmental education. Her research interests include alternative conceptions in scienceeducation; emergent knowledge in communities of learners; improving science education via
professional development schools access; community service learning; collaborative learning;and ICT implementation in education.
Email: klima.ronen@gmail.com
Dr Monty P. Satiadarma, Tarumanagara University, Indonesia
Monty P. Satiadarma is a clinical psychologist who has been teaching psychology at
Tarumanagara University since 1994. He was one of the founders of the Department of
Psychology at Tarumanagara, as well as the Dean of Psychology, Vice Rector and Rector of
the university. He graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Indonesia, art
therapy from Emporia State, Kansas, family counselling from Notre Dame de Namur,
California, and clinical hypnotherapy from Irvine, California. He has nationally published anumber of books with a particular interest in educational psychology, and in music and art
therapy – methods with which he treated survivors of the Indonesian tsunami on behalf of theInternational Red Cross and the United Nations. He is a board member and area chair of theInternational Council of Psychology, and a founder and board member of the Asian Psychology
Association.
Email: monty_satiadarma@yahoo.com
Dr Raimond Selke, School of Foreign Studies, Osaka University
Raimond Selke holds a PhD in Art History from the University of Regensburg (Bavaria,
Germany), specialising in 19th-century Victorian Painting and Art of the Weimar Republic.
He is currently Associate Professor at Osaka University, Graduate School of Language andCulture. He teaches undergraduate and post graduate students in German language and inspecial seminars on Ethics in Business and Intercultural Competence and Communication plus
German Art History. He has been researching and teaching overseas for many years, including
at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, The Cleveland Museum of Art, United Statesof America, East China University of Science, Technology, China, and Universiti Putra
Malaysia, Malaysia. His research interests are in Teaching German and Fine Arts and BusinessStudies. He publishes widely in academic journals and professional magazines.
Email: sonoteger@gmail.com
Dr Anna Toom, Touro College, USA
Anna Toom is Associate Professor of Psychology and Education at Touro College Graduate
School of Education, United States of America. She earned a MS in Computer Science from
Moscow Institute of Radio Engineering, Electronics and Automation in 1972 and a MS in
Psychology from Moscow State University, Russia, in 1978. In 1991, she attained her PhD in
Psychology from Moscow State University of Management, Russia. After graduation, for 12
years, she worked as a university researcher and taught psychology from time to time. In theUSA, teaching became her permanent activity. She is a pioneer of distance education in New
York City. She has been designing, developing and instructing various online psychology

13

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

courses for 17 years. A few years ago Anna left the traditional classroom to devote her teaching
and research to online education. Now, she teaches Child Development and Learning in
Cultural Context and History of Education Internet-based courses. Her primary scientificinterest concerns learning in the virtual environment. She studies online students’ adjustment,
motivation, cognitive activity, and communication in the virtual classroom.
Email: annatoom@gmail.com
Dr Daniel Velasco, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, USA
Daniel Velasco earned his BA in both English and French from UCLA, and his MEd from
National University. He spent the first part of his career in the field of international/crosscultural education as an instructor, administrator, student counseLlor, and academic director ata variety of post-secondary institutions. His role as an international student counseLlor
prompted him to diversify his education, and he soon earned an MA in psychology from
Antioch University, and started a private practice specialising in positive psychology. He
continued on to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where he earned a PhD in
International Psychology. Dr Velasco currently resides in Japan, where he is a mental healthcounsellor, associate professor, researcher, and public speaker. He regularly lectures onintercultural communication, teaching strategies, positive psychology, and counseLling
strategies with a focus on adaptation and acculturation. He is an active member of the Japanese
Psychological Association (JPA), the American Psychological Association (APA), theInternational Council of Psychologists (ICP), the International Mental Health Professionals
Japan (IMHPJ), the Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT), and Teachers of English
to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
Email: dvelasco@thechicagoschool.edu
Dr Yoshihiko Yamamoto, Shizuoka University, Japan
Yoshihiko Yamamoto is currently teaching English at Shizuoka University and has lived inboth Australia and New Zealand for more than 10 years. He holds a PhD (Education),
University of Canberra, MA in TESOL, University of Canberra, BA in Education & in
Linguistics, Victoria University of Wellington. His research areas are Discourse Analysis(gender talk), Sociolinguistics (gender stereotypes) and Applied Linguistics (in general).
Email: auyamayoshi@yahoo.co.jp
Dr Tony Yeigh, Southern Cross University, Australia
Tony Yeigh is a Lecturer in the School of Education at Southern Cross University (SCU),
Australia, where he teaches in the areas of educational psychology and classroom management.
Dr Yeigh has also had extensive consultancies relating to the Australian Government Quality
Teacher Programme (AGQTP), working with classroom teachers at both the primary andsecondary levels of professional development. His research interests are in the areas of working
memory (WM) and classroom instructional design, and in this respect his PhD thesis examined
the relationship between cognitive load and cognitive inhibition, an executive function of theWM system. Dr Yeigh is a research associate with the Centre for Children and Young People(SCU), as well as a member of the Association for Mindfulness in Education (AME) and of
the Teacher Education Research Group (SCU). He is also leader of the School of Education
Learning Sciences Research Group, which focuses on the cognitive-psychological, socialpsychological and cultural-psychological foundations of human learning. Based on theseresearch affiliations Dr Yeigh has published widely in high quality education research journals
and texts, and is currently pursuing research in the areas of pre-service teacher training,educational mindfulness and social-emotional wellbeing.
Email: tony.yeigh@scu.edu.au

14

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Reviewers
Dr Christina Belcher, Redeemer University College, Canada
Christina Belcher earned her PhD (Philosophy of Education) at Monash University,
Melbourne, Australia. She has worked in higher education in Australia, New Zealand, British
Columbia and is currently Chair of the Education Department at Redeemer University College
in Hamilton, Ontario. Her research interests include worldview, children’s literature, higher
education, culture, collaborative inquiry, partnerships and technology. She has been the former
Editor of the ICCTE Journal, and is currently their book review editor. Her academic
publications include book chapters, peer-reviewed journals, and education journals/magazines
for teacher audience as well as collaborative research projects. She is an unapologetic “booka-holic”, and loves to read.
Dr Rachid Bendriss, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar
Rachid Bendriss received his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and MA in
TESOL from the University of Central Florida (UCF), USA. He has been teaching multilingual
students since 1999. He is currently an associate professor of English for Academic Purposes
and Assistant Dean for Student Recruitment, Outreach and Foundation programs at Weill
Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). Prior to joining WCM-Q, Dr Bendriss taught and managed
educational programs at UCF and Valencia College in Florida, USA. He has lectured andwritten extensively on issues related to the internationalization of higher education, second
language literacy, academic English development, information literacy, college readiness, andeducational technology. Dr Bendriss is an international education leader who received theprestigious US Department of State Fulbright Award of International Education, thedistinguished Florida Association of International Education Annual Award, and multiple
awards for excellence in teaching.
Dr Angelina E. Borican, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Philippines
Angie Borican is the Director of the Publications Office under the Office of the Vice President
for Research, Extension and Development of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in
Sta. Mesa, Manila. She supervises the unit in charge of producing the University journals andother publication projects of the University. She is an associate professor in the Department of
Journalism, College of Communication, and handles journalism and research subjects. She alsoteaches in the PUP Open University as course facilitator in the Master in Communication and
Master in Educational Management programs and handles research, organizational
communication and development courses. A Bachelor of Arts in Communication, major in
Journalism graduate, cum laude from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, she finished
her Master in Business Administration degree also in UP Diliman and earned her Doctor in
Educational Management degree from the PUP Graduate School. She is actively involved inresearch and publications. Her research outputs have been presented locally and abroad in
research conferences organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher
Learning (ASAIHL), Asian Media and Information Center (AMIC), the Philippine Associationof State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) among others. She has likewise authored and/oredited a number of modules and books both in the field of communication and education.
Dr Bachir Bouhania, University of Adrar, Algeria
Bachir Bouhania got both his MPhil (1999) and PhD (2007) from the University of Oran,
Algeria. Since 1999, he has been teaching at the University of Adrar, in the south of the country,
in the Department of Arts and English Language, Faculty of Arts and Languages. Former headof department (2002–2012), Vice-Dean for postgraduate studies (2012–2013), person in charge

15

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017of the domain of foreign languages (2011–2017), and secretary of the National Pedagogical
Committee for the Domain of Foreign Languages (CPND-LLE), he is the current Erasmus+
coordinator at the university level. Professor Bouhania reviews academic papers for several
local, national and international journals such as SageOpen. He was a senior reviewer for
IAFOR’s European Conference on Language Learning held in Brighton, UK, in 2014.
Dr Joanie Crandall, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Joanie Crandall is Coordinator of the Centre for Forensic Behavioral Science and JusticeStudies at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. She teaches for the College of Educationand is an Executive Committee member of both of the unions to which she belongs. She
completed her doctoral degree at the University of Saskatchewan in Interdisciplinary Studies,
during which time she was a principal at a K-6 school in the Arctic and Limited Term
Appointment at the University of Prince Edward Island. She taught grades 7 to 12 on a remoterural Cree reservation in northern Canada and has a background in Instructional Design and
Educational Media. She is a facilitator of Instructional Skills workshops. She was the Book
Review Editor for the Journal of Canadian Association of Curriculum Studies for four years
and she brings three years of experience reviewing manuscripts for the Canadian Journal of
Education. She has worked with non-profits and government agencies and has published her
research in a variety of contexts. Her research interests include Indigenous writing,interdisciplinary learning models, multimodal emergent and early literacies, social justiceapproaches in teaching and writing, and qualitative methods.
Dr Nick Chown, Independent Researcher, Spain
Nick Chown is an independent autism advocate, mentor, researcher and trainer. He has
undertaken research on support for students with autism at university, barriers to learning forstudents with autism in further education, autism awareness in the police service, viva protocols
for doctoral students with autism, and diagnostic pathways for autistic adults. His most recent
published research – undertaken in conjunction with various university colleagues – involved
the development of a framework for "inclusive" research in autism. In addition to leading ateam of independent researchers in the field of autism, he has also been engaged with auniversity project mentoring autistic adults. He is currently undertaking an investigation ofautism research over the past 20 years and writing entries for an encyclopedia of autism. His
book entitled Understanding and Evaluating Autism Theory was published in November 2016.
He is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Prior to this, he had a lengthy career in corporate risk management.
Dr Denise Edith De Souza, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Denise De Souza completed her doctoral degree at the National Institute of Education,
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, and has a Postgraduate Diploma in
Education (Sec.) and a Master of Education from the same institution. She is currently a fulltime Lecturer at the Language and Communication Centre in NTU, where she collaborates
with the Scientific Communication team. She has been involved in a range of education-related
research and has tended to adopt a critical realist approach in her own research. To date, she
has peer-reviewed manuscripts for Evaluation (Sage Journals), and the Asian Journal of Social
Psychology and Pedagogies. She has also reviewed a chapter published by the academic
publisher Routledge. Her research interests include Academic Literacies, Qualitative andMixed Methods, Educational Technology, Multimodal Communication, Program
Implementation and Evaluation, and the Application of Critical Realism and Realist Social
Theory in research practice.

16

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Dr Ilaria De Santis, Hawaii Tokai International College, USA
Ilaria De Santis earned an EdD in Instructional Leadership from Argosy University, Sarasota,
Florida, a MA in Western Literature and Linguistics from the University of Naples “Federico
II” and a BA in Art History and Literature from the University of Naples "Federico II". She iscurrently employed as an associate professor of Liberal Arts and Accreditation Liaison Officer
at Hawaii Tokai International College in Kapolei, Hawaii. She also serves as Adjunct AssistantProfessor of Writing, Speech, and Spanish language at the University of Maryland University
College, Adelphi, Maryland. She has been an assistant professor of Humanities at TidewaterCommunity College, Portsmouth, Virginia, teaching classes in Creative Thinking and Writing,as well as in Ancient, Modern and Contemporary Art. In the past, she worked as a lecturer of
Italian and Latin languages at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and trained military linguists
and Flag Officers for the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) in Advanced Spanish
Language. Her research interests include foreign language learning (Classics, ESL, Italian andSpanish), Western/Eastern Literature and Mythology, and Education with emphasis on
Homeschooling and Curriculum Development. Her publications include articles published in
the Journal of Interdisciplinary Humanities and several presentations held at the Accrediting
Commission for Community Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Conference in Irvine, California, at
Tokai University Shonan Campus, Japan, and at South University, Virginia.
Dr Intakhab A. Khan, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
Intakhab A. Khan is an Assistant Professor (Pedagogy of English) at King Abdulaziz
University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He holds postgraduate qualifications in English (MA, AMU,
India), MEd (Jamia Millia Islamia, India), MPhil and PhD (JMI, India). His research andpublications include education, language education, teaching of English, peace education,
culture-based teaching of English, educational policy and curriculum development. For the past
24 years he has been actively engaged in teaching, training, professional development,
conference presentations, research, publication and community services. An author of 12 books
and 60 articles/papers, Dr Khan has been carrying out sponsored projects on writing textbooksin the area of English language teaching in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Lynda Leavitt, Lindenwood University, USA
Lynda Leavitt is an associate professor in the School of Education, Educational Leadership,
Lindenwood University, USA. She is Director of the Future Institute Research Center and
Editor of the Journal of Educational Leadership in Action (ELA). Teaching responsibilities
include EdD Capstone coursework in the Educational Leadership doctoral program along withserving as dissertation chair and committee member to many doctoral students. Dr Leavitt
received recognition as Lindenwood University President's Scholar-Teacher and nationalrecognition as Alpha Chi Honor Society Sponsor of the Year. She earned her EdD in
Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University and holds an MA International Studies,
MA Curriculum and Instruction, BS Elementary and Special Education and BS Political
Science. Recent publications: Handbook of Research on Advancing Critical Thinking in
Higher Education and Cultural Awareness and Competency Development in Higher Education.
Jessica Loh, Institute of International Education, Thailand
Jessica Loh is the Director of Outreach with the Institute of International Education in Bangkok
where she oversees outreach initiatives for global scholarships in Asia-Pacific. Equipped with
an MA in International Education, she served six years at Payap University in Chiang Mai,
Thailand, where she established the International Campus Life unit, implementing programsfor Payap's foreign student body to support international student development and integration.
She then joined the University of Michigan, where she advised engineering students and faculty

17

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

on co-curricular education abroad program design, and co-developed an Engineering AcrossCultures study abroad in Thailand. She served as mentor for the IIE pilot course, “Connectingwith the World: International Relations at Higher Education Institutions”, to familiarize
Myanmar universities with campus internationalization. She is interested in combining arts andeducation, as exemplified by her organization of Chiang Mai’s first Southeast Asian Film
Festival, which focused on society and human rights. With over ten years of working ininternational education in Asia, she is knowledgeable about comparative education topics,
especially pertaining to student mobility, internationalization, and institutional best practices
for international programs.
Dr Thelma D. Manansala, Bataan Peninsula State University, Philippines
Thelma Manansala is a full-time permanent faculty member of the Bataan Peninsula State
University, Philippines. She was accredited into full professor by virtue of NBC Cycle 5 in
December 2014. She has been the cluster chair of the Mathematics Department from 2006 to
2016. She finished her Doctor of Education major in Educational Supervision and Management
at the Bataan Peninsula State University in the Philippines, and Master of Arts in Educational
Management at the same university. She has been in the teaching profession for 27 years. She
has authored textbooks in College Algebra, Trigonometry, and Statistics. Her research interests
focus on education in the Philippines including analysis of education policies, management ofpublic and private institutions, curriculum and instructional development. She is a committee
reviewer of the International Conference on Leadership and Governance, European Conference
on Social Media, and was a senior reviewer at IAFOR’s IICSSDubai2017 conference. She isalso a reviewer for the following journals: Merit Research Journal of Education and Review,
African Education Review, and Journal of US-China Public Administration.
Dr Teri Marcos, National University, USA
Teri Marcos completed her doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership, with an emphasis in
Educational Management at University of La Verne, in California, USA. She is currently
Professor, Lead Faculty, Educational Administration at National University’s Los Angeles
Regional Center for the Sanford College of Education. Having served as a middle school
educator and school administrator for 20 years she is leading several multi-university research
projects including how districts engage leadership from a distributed lens, the collective
efficacy of staff academic optimism on growth in student learning, and how iPrincipals bestlead Technology Language Learners. To date, she has peer-reviewed four school leadershipbook manuscripts for Corwin-Sage, as well as manuscripts for the Journal of Women in Higher
Education. She has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching,
and Research (The American Educational Research Association). Her qualitative and mixedmethods research interests include: the collective efficacy of high-performing school staff in
low socio-economic schools; the effects of legislated educational reform on student learning;coaching school leaders for equity; digital reflective portfolios; and assessment of curriculum
and instruction.
Dr Alyson McGee, Massey University, New Zealand
Alyson McGee earned her PhD (Educational Research) at Gothenburg University, Sweden.
Initially, she was a primary school teacher in the United Kingdom before studying to be a
TESOL educator and working in France, Spain, Turkey, and Greece. As an academic, she has
worked in the United Kingdom, Sweden, United Arab Emirates and New Zealand. Currently,
she is the Academic Advisor for Internationalization and TESOL program at the Institute of
Education at Massey University, New Zealand. Her research interests include
internationalization in higher education; TESOL in schools and higher education contexts in18

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

English speaking and non-English speaking countries; leadership of TESOL; professional
development and learning for teachers and teacher’s educators; and qualitative research,
particularly action inquiry. She has academic publications in peer-reviewed journals, education
journals/magazines for teachers, published research projects, has been solicited for guest
writings for publication in book chapters and has served as a keynote speaker.
Dr Elena Raevskikh, Centre Norbert Elias, France
Elena Raevskikh is a research fellow at the French National Centre for Scientific Research(CNRS) at the Centre Norbert Elias in Marseille, France. She holds a PhD in sociology fromthe School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS). Her PhD thesis is entitled“The Genesis and renewals of institutional forms of culture: a study of music conservatories
and their territorial anchors”. Dr Raevskikh graduated in international public law from theLomonosov Moscow State University Law Faculty, Russia, where she studied the legal aspectsof the process of economic and monetary integration in the European Union. She is currently
involved in the ANR-Curricula research project funded by the French National Research
Agency, which aims to analyse the reorganization of cultural institutions in cities designated“European Capitals of Culture” in four European countries (France, Sweden, Poland and Italy).
For this project, she is developing new conceptual and methodological approaches to identify
the creative territories and the socio-cultural dynamics of artistic innovation.
Dr Sonal Mobar Roy, National Institute of Rural Development and PR, India
Sonal Mobar Roy is an Assistant Professor at the Center for PG Studies and Distance Education
at the National Institute of Rural Development and PR, India. She has worked as a Consultant
at the Center for Equity and Social Development at the same institute and carried out
monitoring and evaluation of sponsored government projects on the right to education andeducation for all. She worked as a Research Scientist at the Center for Exact Humanities at theInternational Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, before joining NIRDPR. Dr Roy
has an MA in Social Anthropology, along with an advanced level diploma in Computer
Applications. She earned her PhD in Sociology from the Department of Humanities and Social
Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, one of the premier institutes in India. Her
doctoral study focused on stigma related to TB and HIV in the Ladakh region of India, and thefieldwork was sponsored by Parkes Foundation, UK. Her research interests include Sociologyof Education and Health, Culture Studies, Rural Development, Ethnography and Crowd
sourcing. She has been involved in teaching, research and training at her institute and iscurrently working on compiling a compendium of best practices in rural development in India.
She has national and international publications to her name and strives to bridge the gap
between theory and practice through her writings and research.
Dr Akihiro Saito, Hakuoh University, Japan
Akihiro Saito is a lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Hakuoh University, Japan. His researchinterests include pedagogy, attitudes and identity in language learning, education policy anddiscourse theory. He serves on the editorial board of Dialogic Pedagogy Journal, and as areviewer for System (Elsevier), The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher (Springer), andEurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics. His articles have appeared in International Journalof Applied Linguistics (Wiley-Blackwell), System (Elsevier), and International Journal of
Pedagogies and Learning (Taylor & Francis). He received the 2016 Japanese Association of
Qualitative Psychology International Research and Collaboration Promotion Award.

19

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Dr Najwa Saba ’Ayon, Rafik Hariri University, Lebanon
Najwa Saba ’Ayon is a full-time assistant professor in the College of Arts at Rafik Hariri
University, Lebanon. She is the coordinator of all English and Intensive courses in thedepartment in addition to Business Arabic and Spanish. Dr Saba ’Ayon has a BA in English
Language, a teaching diploma in TEFL, an MA in TEFL from the American University ofBeirut, Lebanon, and a Doctorate of Education (EdD) from the University of Sussex, UK. She
has considerable experience teaching English as a foreign language (EFL). Besides English
courses, she has taught elective courses, namely Intercultural Communication and Public
Speaking. She has published and presented in national and international conferences on flipped
learning, intercultural communication, student motivation, collaborative learning in ESP
courses, as well as EFL teachers’ conceptions of teaching and their practice. She is interested
in teacher training and development, ESP, intercultural communication, and preparation of
professional communicators. Recently, Dr Saba ’Ayon served as a senior reviewer for The
IAFOR International Conference on Education – Dubai 2017.
Dr L. Bethe Schoenfeld, Western Galilee College, Israel
Bethe Schoenfeld completed her doctoral degree entitled “Dysfunctional Families in the
Wessex Novels of Thomas Hardy” at Anglia Ruskin University, UK. Prior to that she
completed her MA in English Literature entitled “Shakespeare’s Concept of Law and Justice”
at the University of Haifa, Israel. She has been teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL)and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) since 1985 in Israel. Her current research interests
include student behavior and learning strategies in online foreign language courses as well as
the socio-cultural impact of increased awareness of Israelis of the American rock band The
Grateful Dead. She has co-authored several tertiary level textbooks, focusing on both criticalthinking skills and academic-level articles and questions, for students of English learning
English in a non-English-speaking environment at Intermediate and Advanced levels. She has
also been senior editor for department-wide EFL exams at Intermediate and Advanced levels
for the past 10 years at the Western Galilee College, where she has been lecturing since 1996.
Dr Chung-chin Wu, National Pingtung University, Taiwan
Chung-chin Wu is Assistant Professor at National Pingtung University, Pingtung, Taiwan. He
is originally from Taichung, Taiwan. He received his doctoral degree with an emphasis onachievement motivation and juvenile delinquency from the Institute of Education at the
National Cheng Kung University in winter 2015. He holds a Master’s degree in early childhood
education from Chen Chi University in Taipei, Taiwan. His research focuses are achievement
motivation and juvenile delinquency for young children and adolescents, respectively. He wasawarded funding by the Ministry of Technology in Taiwan to conduct multidisciplinary
research with junior high school students during 2014. He is currently working on a research
project regarding preschool teachers’ classroom goals and preschoolers’ learning motivation.
Dr Huanshu Yuan, University of Washington, USA
Huanshu Yuan holds a Master of Education degree with distinction in Bilingual andMulticultural Education. She received her PhD in 2017 in the field of Multicultural Educationfrom the University of Washington (College of Education). She is a frequent presenter atnational and international education conferences. Her teaching and research interests are
multicultural and social justice education, culturally responsive teaching, curriculum
development and reform, ethnic studies, and teacher education. Huanshu’s current researchconcentrates on creating multicultural learning environments for students from diverse
backgrounds, as well as preparing culturally responsive teachers for future students.

20

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

21

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 201722

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Editors’ Introduction
It is our great pleasure and honour to introduce the September 2017 issue of the IAFOR Journalof Education. This issue is a selection of papers submitted directly to our journal as well as
studies presented during various conferences, including:
1. The IAFOR International Conference on Education – Dubai 2017 (IICEDubai2017),
held at the InterContinental Festival City Event Centre, Dubai, UAE, February 26–28,
2017. Conference Theme: “Educating for Change”.
2. The IAFOR Asian Conference on Education & International Development 2017
(ACEID2017), held at the Art Center Kobe, Kobe, Japan, March 26–29, 2017.
Conference Theme: “Educating for Change”.
3. The 102nd US National Communication Association Annual Convention in
Philadelphia (NCA) in 2016: Communication's Civic Callings, 2016. Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, USA, November 10–13, 2016.
The first paper, co-authored by Akihiro Saito and Michael E. Smith, is entitled “Measurement
and Analysis of Student (Dis)engagement in Higher Education: A Preliminary Study”. This
article reports on an exploratory questionnaire project on student disengagement in a higher
education setting in Japan. In response to their own and others’ observations of a range ofstudent behaviors in higher education, the authors sought to measure student disengagement intheir teaching context. They identified a 5-factor structure of student disengagement anddiscuss possible intervention measures to monitor and promote student engagement.
The second paper, entitled “Discourses on Empowerment in Adult Learning: A View on
Renewed Learning” is authored by Luisa Daniele, a researcher working at the Italian Agency
on Active Labour Market Policies, a governmental agency with the responsibility of monitoringand evaluating labour market policies, including training policies for employed andunemployed adults. A critical reflection is developed in the paper on the dimension of
empowerment in the European discourse, starting from some operational definitions used in
official documents. The author analyses the shift in the European documents from 2000 torecent years, from a lifelong learning vision to an adult education approach, basically labour
market oriented, thus leaving aside the social cohesion and self-emancipatory dossiers. Against
this background, a theoretical approach derived from the categories of transaction andreflexivity is suggested, setting out from the works of John Dewey. This paper investigates
whether the categories of experience, problem posing and emancipation are more suitable fora long-term project on adult learning than the categories of activation, problem solving, andempowerment.
The third paper, entitled “Factors Affecting Teachers’ Perceived Proficiency in Using ICT in
the Classroom”, is co-authored by Prema Basargekar and Chandan Singhavi. This study isbased on the primary data collected by Professor Chandan Singhavi, who is pursuing her PhD
in the area of identifying factors affecting successful implementation of ICT at the school
education. Dr Prema Basargekar is her PhD guide. The survey data is collected from theteachers working in Maharashtra region from India. One of the focus areas of the research is to
identify the barriers faced by the teachers in implementing ICT in the classroom. It is expectedthat research outcomes will benefit school management to develop new policies to mitigate
some of these barriers.

23

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

The fourth paper, entitled “The Dynamics of Decentralization of Higher Education Delivery
and Local Politics in the Philippines: The Case of Two Mandaue City Colleges in Cebu
Province”, is written by Ronald A. Pernia. It looks at the experience of a city government in
the Philippines which has two similarly named local colleges and how later on it created a
conflict of legitimacy that prompted actions from the Commission on Higher Education – thenational government agency tasked to oversee higher education in the Philippines. This study
starts by introducing the context of the decentralization law of 1991 and how it allows local
governments to embark on establishing their own local versions of higher education institutions
and then it analyzes the local socio-political condition upon which the local college and local
government are situated by looking at the responses from interviews, focus group discussion
and pertinent documents. This study was anchored on an educational politics framework andrevealed that the democratic opening engendered by the decentralization law to allow local
governments to establish post-secondary schools are confronted with tensions. However,despite this conflict there were accounts of positive impact noted in this study as a result of theventure of the city government into higher education. As such, this study suggested policy
directions and practical considerations for national governments vis-à-vis the LGU’s role asenabler and/or regulator of higher education. In addition, using the concept of “politics” as aconstructive force in effecting positive changes must be pursued for future research.
The fifth paper, co-authored by Jerome St-Amand, Stéphanie Girard and Jonathan Smith, isentitled “Sense of Belonging at School: Defining Attributes, Determinants, and Sustaining
Strategies”. This study focuses on the sense of belonging at school. This important componentof school life may have a positive impact on motivation to learn, which is considered essential
for success. In their article, the authors propose a review of the existing literature related to thesense of belonging while emphasizing on its attributes and determinants. Then, they describe
instruments that have been used to measure it. Finally, they conclude with strategies andrecommendations for stakeholders to help them build and sustain such a sense amongst theirstudents.
The sixth paper, entitled “Friends with Benefits: Causes and Effects of Cheating During
Examinations”, is authored by Leo Andrew Diego. This study argues that learners’ illegitimate
means of responding to the triggering failure and frustration during examinations are not to be
counted as an excuse for them to be recognized as highly innovative. Through making friendsof their peers, tolerating their dishonest behavior by giving the answer because of friendship,
gaining confidence through social approval, for everyone does it, feelings of being intelligent
because of cheating practices and manipulating gadgets to copy clear-cut answers should not
be tolerated by teachers. The rules and codes must not merely rest in the enrollment forms or
written school policies, but it must be in action, meaning to say in constant reminders given
and intervention by teachers who have full authority and responsibility to hone learners in thelight of honesty and maturity as enduring values in the arena of life. In this context whereinfriendship was found as being manipulated and utilitarian in character, honesty is not just a
policy; rather, it is the only policy for the learners to stand on a high moral ground and build
self-confidence in the long run.
The seventh paper, entitled “Self-efficacy Reduces Impediments to Classroom Discussion forInternational Students: Fear, Embarrassment, Social Isolation, Judgment, and Discrimination”,
was written by Junko Maeda. This study was an in-depth exploration of the adverse emotional
factors that impede discussion participation. Using a qualitative approach, 23 international
students at one university were interviewed, and their responses analyzed. Students reported
that fear, embarrassment, social isolation, judgment, and discrimination were barriers to24

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

participation. These findings were discussed in the context of a framework for reducing
negative emotional states, employing self-efficacy theory. This framework was applied to theinterview results and the author’s observation of international students’ behavior at dormitories
and university offices. These findings suggest a possible intervention approach for educators
to help international students express themselves in the classroom.
The eighth article, written by Singhanat Nomnian, is entitled “Politician-Turned-Doctoral
Student’s Narrative Identity at an Australian University: A Case Study”. The study highlights
the participant’s transition from politics to academia that requires his action, reflection, andexperimentation through venturing himself into his new role, adapting himself to the academic
and research community, and negotiating his previous professional political experiences with
his imagined academician. The participant’s academic and social contexts in living andstudying in Australia are connected by using academic and communicative English. As amature-age learner, he reconstructs his academic self into the Australian higher education andemploys his former political experiences and connections as a strong foundation to gain his
imagined expectations. His narratives of life and career transitions through investing in higher
education have illustrated that his personal growth and satisfaction have been enhanced. In an
era of aging society, higher education can enhance adult learners’ life-long learning that canenlighten their life and career aspirations.
The ninth article, entitled “Hearts Grow: Contemplative Learning for Inner Stability
Development in Female Prison Inmates”, is co-written by Somsit Asdornnithee and Proetphan
Daensilp. Due to great risks of emotional stress, including as serious as suicide found in female
prison inmates in Thailand, there have been a number of projects introduced to make a change
in the quality of life in prisons. However, works that can count for much in long-term
development of the quality of life with the decrease in the recidivism rate are those associatedwith the inner skills. Inner stability is one of the important qualities signifying one’s own
sustainable wellbeing. This is why applying contemplative learning process with female prison
inmates could respond to such needs and allow inner transformation to happen in them. This
article will elaborate on the details of the learning process facilitation appropriate for the innerstability development in female inmates, and also on their inner experiences, including sometransformation found during and after the program.
The tenth article, authored by Stefan Battle, is entitled “White Teachers’ Reactions to the Racial
Treatment of Middle-School Black Boys”. It recounts a study of White teachers’ responses to
provocative fictionalized vignettes of classroom interactions between White teachers andmiddle-school Black boys. These vignettes reveal levels of stereotyping and chastising
exploitation that seem to perpetuate a belief that young Black males are not as academicallyproficient as their White counterparts. Originating from Battle’s professional experience as a
middle-school School Social Worker/Guidance Counselor in the United States, the vignettes
are suggestive of racial, social, and cultural differences between White teachers and their Black
male students. The study participants were White teachers who were asked to talk and write
about the actions and behavior of the teachers in the vignettes. Their analyses of how thefictional teachers behaved toward their students considered familial, social, and professional
influences on teacher-student interactions. Study participants, who indicated they had received
multicultural training through professional development in their school district,overwhelmingly condemned dehumanizing practices. The results indicated that suchprofessional development likely led to an appreciation and awareness of students’ racial, social,and cultural differences and an increased sensitivity to fairly and respectfully working withBlack male students.

25

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Please note that we welcome original research papers in the field of education submitted byteachers, scholars, and education professionals, who may submit their manuscripts even though
they did not participate in one of the conferences held by IAFOR. We also welcome bookreviews, reviews of the literature in the field, and contributions introducing key educational
scholars.
The IAFOR Journal of Education is an internationally reviewed and editorially independentinterdisciplinary journal associated with IAFOR’s international conferences on education. Like
all IAFOR publications, it is freely available to read online, and is free of publication fees for
authors. The first issue was published in May 2013, and the journal continues to publish threeissues per year. The next issues, Volume 5 Issue 3 and Volume 6 Issue 1, are scheduled for
publication on December 1, 2017 and March 1, 2018 respectively; they will also be a selectionof papers submitted during the above mentioned conferences. IAFOR publications are freely
accessible on the IAFOR website (Open Access).
Best regards,
Bernard Montoneri, Lucy Spence, Yvonne Masters and Massoud Moslehpour
IAFOR Journal of Education
ije.iafor.org

26

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 201727

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 201728

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Measurement and Analysis of Student (Dis)engagement in
Higher Education: A Preliminary Study

Akihiro Saito
Hakuoh University, Japan
Michael E. Smith
Aomori University of Health and Welfare, Japan

29

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Abstract
Higher education is attracting more participation from an increasingly diverse student body.
This diversity invites concerns on effective instructional delivery as the extent of students’
engagement in learning now varies widely. Anecdotes on students’ “undesirable” dispositions
in course participation are not uncommon in higher education settings. This project set out todevelop a questionnaire, developed for higher education in the Japanese context, on a range ofstudent dispositions. The scale was a five-point Likert instrument designed to interpret learners’
disengagement as an attitudinal disposition. The paper discusses the conceptual contours ofdisengagement as a student disposition that provided the basis for the context-specific scale
items. It reports the procedures taken to obtain the factor structures of the dataset. The
questionnaire was administered to 145 engineering students in Japan. An exploratory factor
analysis revealed a five-factor solution – lack of commitment, distractedness, lack of
preparedness, anti-social orientation, and lack of focus. Avenues for further research aresuggested, and implications for practice are discussed.
Keywords: higher education; learner engagement; student attitudes; rating scales.

30

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Introduction
Participation in higher education is increasing worldwide, and the demands placed on postsecondary education are changing (Laurillard, 2012). A much larger proportion of the
population take on a degree program at universities, and higher education has become muchless elitist. In Japan, this trend was observed earlier than in other parts of the world. The
relaxation of regulations governing the organization of universities and their education
provision took place in the 1990s (Amano, 2014). This liberalization of higher education led
to a rapid increase of tertiary institutions. This phenomenon was accompanied by a steady risein the numbers of university goers. Higher education enrolment in Japan is now as high asnearly 75% (Kariya, 2011) with 56.7 % for enrollment in 4-year institutions in 2014 (seeHarada, 2015). However, enrollments are decreasing quickly as the number of 18-year-olds
continues to drop in an increasingly aging population.
In the mid-2000s, following an extended period of economic stagnation, Japan seemed to entera new phase of economic recovery. The role that public reforms played was important in laying
the foundation for growth during this period. From the late 1990s onward, at the center of thegovernment’s reform measures for an economic turn-around was the tertiary education system.
Particularly notable was the Koizumi administration’s partial privatization of national
universities (Yamamoto, 2004). These higher education institutions now operate ascorporations with considerable autonomy from centralized control. Education is a politicalissue as it is framed and funded by the state to a great measure, and this invites competingpressures from market and business industry as well as from academia and education lobbyists.
There is now a general and widespread recognition that tertiary education is a driving force inboosting economic competitiveness in a knowledge-driven globalized economy (Newby, Weko,
Breneman, Johanneson, & Maassen, 2009). This entails that higher education provides
conditions for learners to develop a reasonable level of academic achievement and practicalskills across disciplines, while simultaneously, balancing these skills with professional
knowledge. This trend has been gaining traction in higher education both abroad and in Japan.
It is now the role of tertiary education institutions to provide the conditions and opportunities
for shaping the student mindset toward lifelong learning and personal development.
Increasing participation in higher education worldwide has brought greater diversity to thestudent body in terms of academic bent (Altbach, Reisberg, & Rumbley, 2009). Increasing
enrollments suggest that the degree of academic orientation and commitment of students is
accordingly varied. Within a university, the range of dispositions and ability within courses isdiverse. In the sociological literature, it is axiomatic that a household’s standard of living is
implicated in access to higher education, and books in the home are a proxy for cultural capitalin the family (Kariya, 2011). The economic and cultural capital and students’ dispositions
nurtured by these resources increase both the chance of enrolling in higher education andstudents’ academic success at university (e.g., Kariya, 2012). These socio-economic indicatorsand cultural background variables translate into observable differences, such as whether
students have relevant background knowledge and a curiosity about a particular subject.
Namely, there are now a considerable number of students who would not have considered or
been able to go to university a mere generation or two ago.
Thus, it is not just that enrolment rates are higher than at any other time in history, the emphasis
is now on concerns about effective teaching and outcome. Conceiving ways to actively engage
students in their learning now poses a real challenge. In the Japanese higher education context
as well as in other parts of the world, the challenge that educators face is how to empower

31

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

students so that they take greater autonomy for their learning. Addressing this concern requires
learner-centered teaching methods such as an active learning approach, which more effectively
stimulates students’ use of higher cognitive activities that a successful student would use
spontaneously (American Psychological Association [APA] Work Group of the Board of
Educational Affairs, 1997; Cavanagh, 2011; Prince, 2004). Concord between the current
instructional models, new pedagogical trends, and students’ needs are necessary as Japanesesociety continues to evolve as a post-industrial knowledge-based economy. This paper
addresses one roadblock to this endeavor common in Japan: teachers sometimes find thatstudents do not engage in a way that is expected or desired for learning and success in higher
education settings. For instance, Escandon (2004) refers to lesson disruption in a Japanesetertiary setting, “The class objectives cannot be achieved because most of the students avoid
learning … or keep other fellow students from engaging [in] learning practices, [and] teachers
have to commit themselves to disciplining students instead” (p. 3). While acknowledging thatthese unnervingly “undesirable” dispositions ought not to be interpreted from the instructor’s
perspective alone, as we discuss subsequently, the paper reports on a project in which a scale
was developed to measure students’ disengagement as a disposition in higher education.
Engagement is a key construct linked with learning and academic success, such as higher
grades, completion rates, and achievement test scores: Evidence suggests that engagement is
responsive to changes in pedagogic practices and holds great potential as a key target ofintervention and improvement efforts (Fredricks, Filsecker, & Lawson, 2016). The scale
reported in this study was designed to measure the dispositions of students displayed in relation
to current university learning, with the scale being the interpretative continuum of thedialectical attitude of compliance with and resistance to the institutional assumptions whichshape “desirable” forms of engagement in tertiary education settings in Japan.
Literature Review
The literature on engagement abounds with a variety of theoretical inclinations and pedagogicalfocuses (see Christenson, Reschly, & Wylie, 2012). While there is much variation regarding
how engagement has been defined and researched, there is some agreement that it is amultifaceted construct (Fredricks, Filsecker, & Lawson, 2016). In the sociological literature,some undesirable forms of engagement are conceived as resistance, which represents students’reactions to a school’s attempts at defining them as a person of less worth than others in a waythat often results in their exclusion from the path to academic achievement (Alpert, 1991).
From this perspective, failure to learn emerges as a result of political resistance, not of an innate
disability. The literature states that resistance could take shape in a subtler form. Students canminimize participation in school practices while displaying exterior conformity to theideological assumptions of schooling as a mode of quiet subversion (Giroux, 1983). In more
psychologically-oriented studies, undesirable forms of participation are understood as
misbehavior which indicates a behavior that is perceived by the instructor to interfere with theprimary vector of the learning activity. Other scholars have addressed the issue using school
connection and life course theories to explain the role engagement plays in whether or not a
student completes his or her schooling (Fredricks, 2014). Along with this line of inquiry, somestudies report students’ perspectives, which suggest that they view schooling as standing in theway of them socializing with their peers, leading them to invest minimal effort in their school
work.
Some past studies operated within only the teacher and school’s perspective and tended to
misconstrue the meaning of students’ oppositional dispositions (Alpert, 1991). Alpert argues

32

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017that both conceptions of students’ dispositions as resistance and misbehavior are limiting as
some oppositional dispositions could be construed as legitimate modes of participation in a
democratic society of which the schools are a part. Students’ limited engagement in classroom
discussion and criticism of the instructor over instructional delivery, for example, can becommonly observed phenomena. Notably, these modes of rejection and challenge are revealed
without resorting to violence or leading to class disruption. Hence, while investigating
disengagement as an oppositional disposition is important, labeling these as mere misbehaviors
can be inaccurate as they do not involve formal rule violation. In the Japanese higher education
context, McVeigh (2002) and Escandon (2004) reported their observations of disengagementin the form of students’ “disruptive practices” that are manifested as students’ resistance –apparent apathy, neglect, and lack of interest, among others. The theoretical position adopted
by McVeigh regarding resistance was unlike that which had been described in the sociologicalliterature. Rather, he states that resistance “designates actions and attitudes that do not directly
challenge but scorn the system. This form of subtle resistance ignores … and is a type ofdiversion … from … the dominant structures” (McVeigh, 2002, pp. 185–186). Drawing upon
McVeigh’s (2002) conceptions based on anecdotes and his personal observations in theJapanese context, Escandon (2004) enumerated possible forms of resistance in the following
categories 1 to 7.
1. Bodily dispositions: These describe physical conditions in which students are positioned.
These conditions are thought to exercise impact over whether desirable or undesirable
learning comes to be shaped.
2. Absence: Expressed in students’ attitude and behavior that denigrate the importance ofattending and participating in class activities.
3. Unresponsiveness: Displayed in students not responding and pretending not to know.
4. Neglect and forgetfulness: These behaviors manifest as willful inattention and a learned
neglect of in-class activities, translating into forgetfulness as regards learning materials andassignment due and exam dates.
5. Indifference: This form of resistant attitude manifests itself in a range of behaviors such as
sleeping in class, daydreaming, and not taking notes.
6. Inaccuracy: This is observable in end-products, such as disregarding lecture points and task
instructions, such as essays.
7. Rudeness: This is manifested in behaviors which are disrespectful to the teacher and peers,such as chattering with friends and ignoring requests to be quiet (pp. 6–8).
We stress that these are not empirically established categories and only informed theconstruction of the questionnaire items that we have modified and added to as reported
subsequently (see Appendix). We therefore avoided making any presumption about whether
the items in our questionnaire would cluster together in the same manner as the asserted
categories as above may imply. We note that there is a difference between asserting thesecategories from the instructor’s personal observation and demonstrating these as well as latent
explanatory factors in an empirically based manner. McVeigh (2002) and Escandon (2004) areamong the few scholars who have investigated disengagement in higher education in Japan.
However, neither of them examined the extent of Japanese tertiary students’ dispositions per
se. Escandon attempted to ascertain whether students would assess a list of simulated student
behaviors as being disruptive or not disruptive as well as their perception of the extent of thesebehaviors being observed within the research site (see Escandon, 2004). Therefore, in order tobuttress our understanding of current students’ dispositions in the Japanese context, we sought
to measure their dispositions as reported by students themselves.

33

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Methodology
Participants
A convenience sample of 145 engineering students at a regional university in the northern partof Japan participated voluntarily. The authors, Saito and Smith, teach English as a Foreign
Language to first- and second-year students. In some of his classes at the university, Saito
distributed information about the project which included details such as the purpose of the study,
the research policy assuring participants’ anonymity and privacy, and an estimate of the timerequired to complete the survey online. Participants’ privacy and anonymity throughout the
research process included explaining the use of quotations, and informed consent that they
could withdraw from the project at any time without incurring any penalty. Written consent
was obtained from those who agreed to take part in the survey. Initially, 146 responses werereturned, but one incomplete survey was excluded from analysis. The sample was dominantly
male (n = 123, 84.8%), and the proportion of females was 15.2 percent (n = 22). Their ages
ranged from 18 to 21. The participants majored in six different areas of study including system
and information engineering (n = 48), mechanical engineering (n = 26), electronic-electricalengineering (n = 25), civil engineering and architecture (n = 23), design engineering (n = 13),and bioenvironmental science/engineering (n = 10).
Apparatus
The current study sought to empirically explore the structure of students’ dispositions throughthe questionnaire items (Appendix). The current study, like other studies of learner engagement,
did not draw upon any single definition or conceptualization of the multifaceted construct ofdisengagement. We sought to examine a wide range of undesirable dispositions such as
disengagement to determine whether context-sensitive learner dispositions could be measured,
what perceptions and behaviors they displayed, and how their responses related to one another.
The following priorities guided the development of the instrument: (a) the need for a contextspecific questionnaire, which taps into dispositions relevant to a higher education setting inJapan; (b) the instrument to which respondents can respond in their first language, Japanese;and (c) the context-sensitivity informed by local professionals’ observations and experience aswell as the literature.
The item pool of the scale was drawn from the conceptions of student dispositions as observedin Japanese higher education contexts (Escandon, 2004; McVeigh, 2002). We added a group of
items to this list of dispositions so that we would be able to see the degree to which students
were adaptable to more dialogic, active learning approaches, as noted earlier, toward whichcurrent higher education pedagogical practices are increasingly inclined. This ad hoc constructreflects student attitudinal dispositions toward a classroom pedagogic style, which draws upon
the more active learning mode of education (Cavanagh, 2011; Prince, 2004). A total of 34 items
were selected from the item pool initially. These items constituted the self-report questionnaire
consisting of two parts. In Part 1, 34 Likert-scale items elicited participants’ self-reports of theirattitudes including behavioral dispositions in relation to university learning. Part 2 asked
participants’ demographic information such as gender and major. The Likert-scale items werecreated and refined in accordance with guidelines for the development of a valid and reliable
inventory (Dörnyei, 2003).
In Part 1, a five-point Likert scale where 1 represents “never” and 5 represents “frequently”
was used for all the items (never = 1, rarely = 2, sometimes = 3, occasionally = 4, frequently =34

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 20175). These 34 five-point Likert scale items were randomized in order in an online format. The
questionnaire items were drafted in Japanese and reviewed by two English-Japanese teacherswith seven years of experience for translation accuracy and readability for Japanese students.
The questionnaire was pilot-tested with three engineering students (aged 19, 20 and 21). Basedon the feedback obtained from these informants, the wording in the questionnaire items wasrevised for accuracy and validity.
Procedure
A cover letter was distributed among potential participants, which included an explanation of
the aim of the study and assured potential participants’ anonymity and right to withdraw in the
midst of participation. This was done through some regular classes at Saito’s workplace. In thisway, informed consent was obtained from all the potential participants. Participants were asked
to respond to items on the final Japanese version of the online questionnaire. They entered their
responses manually from chosen computers or mobile devices online outside of class time. The
data entry period lasted for two months. The completed questionnaires were computer-coded.
The data were screened and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences 22.0. We
used exploratory factor analysis, which was designed as a means to explore a dataset as wellas to develop an instrument which could be utilized and refined through other inferential
options such as confirmatory factor analysis, among others, to test hypothetical constructs (seeCostello & Osborne, 2005, p. 8).
The data were subjected to tests of normality and skewness. A graphical inspection of the data
indicated that the distributions for a large majority of the items were bell-shaped, except items
6 (skewness = 2.26, kurtosis = 5.89) and 28 (skewness = 2.89, kurtosis = 9.68). The literaturesuggests that factor analytic procedures that employ maximum likelihood extraction methods
are not adversely affected if skewness is smaller than 2.00 and kurtosis not larger than 7.00
(Fabrigar, Wegener, MacCallum, & Strahan, 1999). Because they exceeded these thresholds,
items 6 and 28 were excluded from further analysis (see Appendix). The values of skewness
and kurtosis of the remaining 32 items came in the ranges between +.037 and +1.95, andbetween -.89 and +5.89, respectively. For these items, maximum likelihood exploratory
analysis was used with a threshold of .45 for factor loadings as a result of the study’s sample
size of 145 (Hair, Black, Babin, & Anderson, 2009).
Results
Factor Structure
A factor analysis on the 32 items was performed using maximum-likelihood extraction withpromax rotation. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin values exceeded the recommended value of 0.6(Kaiser, 1974), and the Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity reached statistical significance (p = .000),
supporting the factorability of the correlation matrix. An initial analysis was run to see
eigenvalues for each factor in the data. Based on the minimum eigenvalue of 1 and a thresholdof .45 for factor loadings (Hair et al., 2009), nine cross-loaded items (1, 9, 12, 14, 17, 19, 24,
33, 34) were culled. The same procedure was iterated three more times, and further seven items(2, 3, 4, 10, 21, 25, 32) were dropped. The remaining 16 items yielded a five-factor solution
accounting for 65.8% of the total variance, with KMO = .819, and the Bartlett’s Test of
Sphericity reached statistical significance (p = .000), indicating a reasonable factor analysis(Bartlett, 1954).

35

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Table 1 shows the factor loadings after rotation. The four items that clustered on Factor 1
accounted for 34.0% of the common variance. These items reflected students’ behavioral
tendency such as absence (I repeatedly cut class) and failure (I fail exams). We named thisfactor lack of commitment because these items indicate students’ inability to act while they are
responsible for attendance and preparation as necessary requirements. Factor 2, which
accounted for 12.3% of the common variance, included five items that related to nonparticipation and diverting elements, such as chatting and socializing with peers while
attending class. Therefore, we labeled this factor distractedness. Factor 3, which explained
7.9% of the common variance, included three items. These items indicated the degree ofstudents’ engagement with course requirements, such as homework and assignment preparation,and thus, it was named lack of preparedness. Factor 4 included two items, accounting for 7.5%of the total variance, with the factor loadings of .70 and .90. This factor was labeled anti-social
orientation because the items were related to students’ willingness to collaborate with peers
who they do not know. Factor 5, the proportion of variance explained by this factor was 6.6%,
with factor loadings of .64 and .84. Factors 4 and 5 were measured by only two items each, but
we decided to retain these as independent components in terms of interpretability; both pairsof items loaded on each component in a conceptually meaningful way. Furthermore, inspectionof scree plots revealed a clear break after the Factor 5, and these five factors met the Kaiser
greater than 1 criterion (Kaiser, 1960). Table 1 displays the estimate of reliability for eachextracted factor. The extracted factors demonstrated good internal consistency, ranging
from .74 to .80. In brief, five factors were extracted from the 16 items. These components
represent lack of commitment, distractedness, lack of preparedness, anti-social orientation, andlack of focus factors, which together are hypothesized to constitute disengagement among thisparticular sample of students. The mean scores of the five factors were lower than the midpoint(3) of the 5-point Likert scale: lack of commitment (M = 1.88), distractedness (M = 2.12), lackof preparedness (M = 2.36), anti-social orientation (M = 1.85), and lack of focus (M = 2.43)(Figure 1). The mean values indicate that instances of resistance and misbehavior are notwidespread but less than moderate as far as our results suggest.
Table 1: Factor-loadings for exploratory factor analysis with maximum likelihood rotation ofdisengagement items (N = 145).
Statement
F1 Lack of commitment (α = .79)
5 I repeatedly cut class.
7 I oversleep and cut class.
8 I cut class and do something of priority outside school (e.g.,socializing with friends, part-time job, family, etc.).
23 I fail exams.
F2 Distractedness (α = .77)
26 I chat about things unrelated to lecture contents.
13 I pretend as if I were paying attention, but I am actually
doing something else such as texting on my phone and doing
assignments for another course.
29 I disregard requests to be quiet and soon get back tochatting with friends.
11 When called on I discuss the question being asked of and/or
the response with fellow students before giving an answer.
27 I use digital devices such as smartphones for non-class36

Loading

M

SD

1.02
.618
.563

1.99 1.014
1.97 1.076
1.56 .686.505

1.99 1.024

.711
.681

2.18 .887
2.15 .974.654

1.48 .718.596

2.37 .912.484

2.43 1.026

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

purposes during class.
F3 Lack of preparedness (α = .80)
15 I do not remember that I had assignments to do until I come .787
to class.
20 I attend class without completing homework.
.718
16 I forget assignment deadlines and exam dates.
.509
F4 Antisocial orientation (α = .77)
30 In group or pair work, I will not talk to the other student(s) .907
if they are people I don’t know.
31 I will not do pair work if the other student is a person I .700
don’t know.
F5 Lack of focus (α = .74)
18 I daydream during class with my mind focused on nothing .842
in particular.
22 I cannot concentrate in class.
.643

2.71 .971
2.28 .924
2.10 .963
1.79 .843
1.90 .915

2.59 .902
2.27 .966

Note. Percentage variance explained: total variance, 68.30; F1, 33.97; F2, 12.33; F3, 7.91; F4,
7.47; F5, 6.63.
3

2

2.43

2.36

2.5

2.12
1.88

1.85

1.5
1
0.5
0
Lack ofcommitment

Distractedness

Lack ofpreparedness

Anti-social
orientation

Lack of focus

Figure 1: Factors influencing student disengagement with mean values.
Participants chose one from a set of response options on a 5-point scale as regards frequency
of a particular behavior stated in each question: “never = 1”, “rarely = 2”, “sometimes = 3”,“occasionally = 4” to “frequently = 5”.
Means of Observed Variables
The mean scores of variables for lack of commitment come in the range between 1.56 and 1.99,
with the mean for the four variables being 1.88 (Figure 2). This result indicates these behaviors
as indicated in the item statements are only marginally observed among the study’s participants.
A slightly smaller mean for Item 8 might be construed that only a handful of the students cut

37

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017class for miscellaneous reasons outside school.
Lack of commitment
2.5
2

1.99

1.99

1.97
1.56

1.5
1
0.5
0
5 I repeatedly cut class. 7 I oversleep and cutclass.

8 I cut class and dosomething of priority
outside school.

23 I fail exams.

Figure 2: Mean values of measured variables influenced by lack of commitment.
Participants chose one from a set of response options on a 5-point scale as regards frequency
of a particular behavior stated in each question: “never = 1”, “rarely = 2”, “sometimes = 3”,“occasionally = 4” to “frequently = 5”.
Distractedness
3
2.5
2
1.5

2.18

2.37

2.15

2.43

1.48

1
0.5
0
26 I chat about 13 I pretend as if I 29 I disregard 11 When called on 27 I use digitalthings unrelated towere paying
requests to be
I discuss thedevices such as
lecture contents. attention, but I am quiet and soon get question being
smartphones for
actually doingback to chatting
asked of or the
non-classsomething else,with friends.
response withpurposes during
such as texting on
fellow students
class.
my phone etc.
before giving ananswer.

Figure 3: Mean values of measured variables influenced by distractedness.
Participants chose one from a set of response options on a 5-point scale as regards frequency
of a particular behavior stated in each question: “never = 1”, “rarely = 2”, “sometimes = 3”,“occasionally = 4” to “frequently = 5”.

38

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Lack of preparedness
3

2.71
2.28

2.5

2.1

2
1.5
1
0.5
0
15 I do not remember that I had
assignments to do until I cometo class.

20 I attend class withoutcompleting homework.

16 I forget assignment
deadlines and exam dates.

Figure 4: Mean values of measured variables influenced by lack of preparedness.
Participants chose one from a set of response options on a 5-point scale as regards frequency
of a particular behavior stated in each question: “never = 1”, “rarely = 2”, “sometimes = 3”,“occasionally = 4” to “frequently = 5”.
Responses on items for distractedness indicate that several distractive behaviors, such as using
digital devices and chatting, can be observed (Figure 3). The means for these items come in therange between 1.48 and 2.43, with the mean for the five items being 2.12. The mean for Item
29 was as small as 1.48, indicating most participants’ responses came between “never = 1” and“rarely = 2”. This result might mean many participants are inclined to respect instructors’request and comply with the behavioral expectations of the class. This characteristic resonateswith the discourse of “the well-disciplined behavior of Japanese people”, with “conduct in daily
life, social solidarity, and education at home” being “the major components of the moral
upbringing of Japanese people” (Iwasa, 2017, p. 1). Meanwhile, responses to the items of lackof preparedness (Figure 4) show a certain degree of carelessness in participants preparing forstudies, such as routine homework assignments. However, the level of carelessness becomesmoderate when their failure to act entails adverse consequences, such as exam and assignment
due dates (Item 16).

39

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Anti-social orientation
1.92

1.9

1.9
1.88
1.86
1.84
1.82
1.79

1.8
1.78
1.76
1.74
1.72

30 In group or pair work, I will not talk to the 31 I will not do pair work if the other student isother student(s) if they are people I don’t know.
a person I don’t know.

Figure 5: Mean values of measured variables influenced by anti-social orientation.
Participants chose one from a set of response options on a 5-point scale as regards frequency
of a particular behavior stated in each question: “never = 1”, “rarely = 2”, “sometimes = 3”,“occasionally = 4” to “frequently = 5”.
The graphs in Figure 5 show that the mean values for anti-social orientation is well below the
mid-point of 2.5. This result can be interpreted as a general willingness among participants tocooperate with peers in their studies. In the meantime, the graphs for the statements about lackof focus (Figure 6) show some degree of lack of concentration; although a follow-up survey isnecessary to identify the reasons for this scattering of attention.
Lack of focus
2.7
2.6

2.59

2.5
2.4
2.27

2.3
2.2
2.1
18 I daydream during class with my mind
focused on nothing in particular.

22 I cannot concentrate in class.

Figure 6: Mean values of measured variables influenced by lack of focus.
Participants chose one from a set of response options on a 5-point scale as regards frequency
of a particular behavior stated in each question: “never = 1”, “rarely = 2”, “sometimes = 3”,“occasionally = 4” to “frequently = 5”.

40

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Discussion
The project sets out to measure and interpret students’ disengagement as attitudinal andbehavioral dispositions in a higher education setting in Japan, drawing on the scholarly
observations of local tertiary students (Escandon, 2004; McVeigh, 2002). Overall, the results
provided good support for the metric properties of the instrument and the five-factor structureof student disengagement as an attitudinal/behavioral disposition with this sample. The study
has three implications. Methodologically, we have tested a new measurement scale to assess
students’ disengagement as an attitudinal disposition informed by the context-specific concerns
as well as the literature. Theoretically, the latent structure of student disengagement has been
identified with empirical evidence. Practically, the findings open the path to the developmentof potentially important educational interventions. For example, the means for lack of
preparedness (M = 2.36) and lack of focus (M = 2.43) factors are slightly higher than those of
the other latent factors. These factors play a greater role than other factors in shaping students’course participation or lack thereof. We argue that structures ought to be installed which help
predispose students to study preparation whilst focusing on the goals to be achieved inuniversity learning. In the introduction section, we identified some challenges we encountered,such as diversity in students’ knowledge base and repertoire of skills, practical teaching design,and learner-centeredness in active learning. The curricular structure and interventions could beredesigned so as to help dispose students to developing positive behavioral patterns forparticipating in learning. In order to achieve this, a mechanism ought to be built in such thatthe gap between declarative, “university” knowledge and professional, functional knowledge
can be decreased. Bridging this gap may be sought, to raise one example, by installing learnercentered, constructive alignment in the curriculum (Biggs, 2014), which is rarely found in
higher education settings in Japan, whereby “what the student does is actually more importantin determining what is learned than what the teacher does” (Shuell 1986 as cited in Biggs &Tang, 2011, p. 97).
On a more micro level, we argue, a mechanism that helps generate positive behavioral patterns,
such as preparing for class participation as well as investing time in outside class assignments,
might be of worth. Although Japan’s university dropout rate was 10% as at 2005 – the lowest
among the 27 developed countries (Matsutani, 2012) – interventions might be possible tofurther improve this figure. Theories of achievement and motivation state that students’ desires
to expand their knowledge, understanding, and skills are major contributors to their level ofengagement in academic tasks; particularly important is consideration of the extent to which
students hold valued long-term goals and the extent to which they perceive their current
learning experiences as leading to the attainment of those goals (Miller, Greene, Montalvo,
Ravindran, & Nichols, 1996). Miller et al. indicates “the need to emphasize the coordinationof proximal goals with distal valued outcomes (future consequences) since the latter may prove
to be important for sustaining effort in academic areas of low interest to students” (p. 416). Ina similar vein, Jang (2008) argues that providing a rationale that helps students identify alecture’s otherwise hidden value, understand the worth of their effort, discover the usefulnessof the lecture, and discover the personal meaning in the lesson. Jang states that when this
instructional strategy is successful, it “can help create an opportunity for students to perceive,
accept, and personally endorse – hence internalize the self-system – the value of the learning
activity” (pp. 798-799). At any rate, there needs to be a system which sustains our practice andthat helps students envision the link between their learning experiences and their career paths
beyond university. At this micro level, as the identified latent factor anti-social tendency
indicates, we contend that creating an inclusive environment and atmosphere which nurturesmutual respect and support among students would be an asset in helping shape more

41

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

interpersonal, peer interactions and discussion participation that could potentially lead tocooperative, active engagement. Palloff and Pratt (2005) identifies a learning community as avehicle through which a course is efficiently conducted: “[b]y learning together in a learning
community, students have the opportunity to extend and deepen their learning experience, testout new ideas by sharing them with a supportive group, and receive critical and constructive
feedback” (p. 8). Likewise, Elboj and Niemela (2010) have observed an increase in dynamic
and supportive interactions along with the solidarity among students by providing them with
dialogic and collaborative learning environments. In a series of these efforts to enhance thequality of education, the instrument as we propose here could be used to assess the usefulnessof pedagogical interventions by monitoring possible flux in student attitudinal and behavioral
patterns and identifying the structure which potentially helps shape positive patterns.
Conclusion
In this paper, we have proposed a scale to measure student disengagement in a tertiary settingin Japan. We have identified the five-factor structure, and the metric properties of the scale
were generally well supported. This instrument might be put to use for a diagnostic purpose inhigher education. The mean value for each item and factor was below the mid-point of 2.5 ona five-point scale, except Items 15 and 18. This can be construed that most students at theuniversity are well-behaved and diligent, and receptive to the active, collaborative learning
style that we facilitate in our English as a foreign language classrooms. This result is in linewith our observation of student behavior and performance in our classes at the university.
Meanwhile, some limitations warrant caution. First, the measures were self-reports, whichmight have invited bias in terms of social desirability (Oppenheim, 1992) and self-deception(Hopkins, Stanley, & Hopkins, 1990). Under certain circumstances, people might intentionallyclaim that they are better than they are, while unconsciously minimizing faults and maximizing
virtues in order to maintain a sense of self-worth. It ought to be noted, however, that self-reports
offer a range of advantages and may constitute the method of choice for exploring a constructwhich involves both intra- and extra-psychic processes, such as resistance and misbehavior(Alpert, 1991). Nevertheless, the reliability of the questionnaire should be further reinforced
through other means, such as reports via students’ self-observation notes, and interviews andfocus-groups. Second, because participation in the study was voluntary, it is possible that theparticipants were the “well-behaved” of the students who were approached. Third, the validityof the instrument was explored among the convenience sample of engineering students only.
The scale needs to be cross-validated with larger student cohorts across disciplines andinstitutions: Factor structures should be further corroborated by conducting confirmatory factor
analysis with a larger dataset.
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the Japan Society for Promotion of Science JSPS KAKENHI(Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists - B) [Grant Number 26870521].

42

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

References
Alpert, B. (1991). Students’ resistance in the classroom. Anthropology & Education Quarterly,
22(4), 350–366. https://doi.org/10.1525/aeq.1991.22.4.05x1193w
Altbach, P. G., Reisberg, L., & Rumbley, L. E. (2009). Trends in global higher education:
Tracking an academic revolution. Paris, France: UNESCO.
Amano, I. (2014). Globalization and higher education reforms in Japan: The obstacles togreater international competitiveness. In-depth. Retrieved July 27, 2017 fromhttp://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a02801
APA Work Group of the Board of Educational Affairs. (1997). Learner-centered psychologicalprinciples: A framework for school reform and redesign. Washington, DC: APA WorkGroup of the Board of Educational Affairs.
Bartlett, M. S. (1954). A note on the multiplying factors for various chi square approximations.
Journal of Royal Statistical Society, 16(Series B), 296–298.
Biggs, J. (2014). Constructive alignment in university teaching. HERDSA Review of Higher
Education, 1, 5–22.
Biggs, J., & Tang, C. (2011). Teaching for quality learning at university (4th ed.). Maidenhead,
UK: Open University Press.
Cavanagh, M. (2011). Students’ experiences of active engagement through cooperative
learning activities in lectures. Active Learning in Higher Education, 12(1), 23–33.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787410387724
Christenson, S. L., Reschly, A. L., & Wylie, C. (2012). Handbook of research on student
engagement. New York, NY: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2018-7
Costello, A. B., & Osborne, J. W. (2005). Best practices in exploratory factor analysis: Four
recommendations for getting the most from your analysis. Practical Assessment,
Research and Evaluation, 10(7).
Dörnyei, Z. (2003). Questionnaires in second language research: Construction, administration,and processing. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Elboj, C., & Niemela, R. (2010). Sub-communities of mutual learners in the classroom: Thecase of Interactive Groups. Journal of Psychodidactics, 15(2), 177–189.
Escandon, A. (2004). Education/learning resistance in the foreign language classroom: A casestudy. AIS St Helens Centre for Research in International Education, Research Paper
Series, Working Paper(5).
Fabrigar, L. R., Wegener, D. T., MacCallum, R. C., & Strahan, E. J. (1999). Evaluating the useof exploratory factor analysis in psychological research. Psychological Methods, 4(3),272-299. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.4.3.272
Fredricks, J. A. (2014). Eight myths of student disengagement: Creating classrooms of deeplearning. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483394534

43

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Fredricks, J. A., Filsecker, M., & Lawson, M. A. (2016). Student engagement, context, andadjustment: Addressing definitional, measurement, and methodological issues. Learning
and Instruction, 43, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2016.02.002
Giroux, H. A. (1983). Theories of reproduction and resistance in the new sociology ofeducation: A critical analysis. Harvard Educational Review, 53(3), 257–293.
https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.53.3.a67x4u33g7682734
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2009). Multivariate data analysis (7thed.). London: Prentice-Hall.
Harada, K. (2015). Universities struggle to cope with shrinking population and globalization.
features. Retrieved July 13, 2017 from http://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00095
Hopkins, K. D., Stanley, J. C., & Hopkins, B. R. (1990). Educational and psychologicalmeasurement and evaluation. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Iwasa, N. (2017). Children’s everyday experience as a focus of moral education. Journal of
Moral Education, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2016.1268112
Jang, H. (2008). Supporting students’ motivation, engagement, and learning during anuninteresting activity. Journal of Educational Psychology, 100(4), 798–811.
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012841
Kaiser, H. F. (1960). The application of electronic computers to factor analysis. Educationaland Psychological Measurement, 20, 141–151.
https://doi.org/10.1177/001316446002000116
Kaiser, H. (1974). An index of factorial simplicity. Psychometrika, 39(1), 31–36.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291575
Kariya, T. (2011). Japanese solutions to the equity and efficiency dilemma? Secondary schools,
inequity and the arrival of ‘universal’ higher education. Oxford Review of Education,
37(2), 241–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2011.559388
Kariya, T. (2012). Gakuryoku to kaiso [“Academic achievement and social strata”]. Tokyo:
Asahi Shimbun.
Laurillard, D. (2012). Teaching as a design science: Building pedagogical patterns for learningand technology. New York: Routledge.
Matsutani, M. (2012, January 10). Student count, knowledge sliding, The Japan Times.
Retrieved from http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/01/10/reference/student-countknowledge-sliding/#.V1KTYCFkiUk
McVeigh, B. J. (2002). Japanese higher education as myth. London: M. E. Sharpe.
Miller, R. B., Greene, B. A., Montalvo, G. P., Ravindran, B., & Nichols, J. D. (1996).
Engagement in academic work: The role of learning goals, future consequences, pleasingothers, and perceived ability. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 21(4), 388–422.
https://doi.org/10.1006/ceps.1996.0028
Newby, H., Weko, T., Breneman, D., Johanneson, T., & Maassen, P. (2009). OECD reviews oftertiary education: Japan. Paris: OECD.

44

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Oppenheim, A. N. (1992). Questionnaire design, interviewing and attitude measurement (Newed.). London: Pinter.
Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2005). Collaborating online: Learning together in community. San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of Engineering
Education, 93(3), 223–231. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2004.tb00809.x
Yamamoto, K. (2004). Corporatization of national universities in Japan: Revolution forgovernance or rhetoric for downsizing? Financial Accountability & Management, 20(2),153–181. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0408.2004.00191.x
Corresponding author: Akihiro Saito
Email: akihiro.saito@gmail.com

45

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Appendix
English Version of the Original Questionnaire Items
Item N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

How much do you agree with these statements regarding your behavior? 1 =Never; 2 = Seldom; 3 = Sometimes; 4 = Often; 5 = Very often
I sit near the back of the classroom.
I sit alone away from other students in class.
I attend lectures without sufficient sleep or with fatigue from part-time work or
club activity.
I avoid making eye contact with the teacher when he/she is going to call on
students.
I repeatedly cut class.
I do not attend class on key dates such as quizzes and exams.
I oversleep and cut class.
I cut class and do something of priority outside school (e.g., socializing withfriends, part-time job, family, etc.).
I do not respond when the teacher calls on me.
I pretend not to be aware of being called upon by the teacher.
When called on I discuss the question being asked of and/or the response withfellow students before giving an answer.
I pretend as if I have thought out the teacher's question.
I pretend as if I were paying attention, but I am actually doing something elsesuch as texting on my phone and doing assignments for another course.
I forget to bring necessary materials to class.
I do not remember that I had assignments to do until I come to class.
I forget assignment deadlines and exam dates.
I nap in class.
I daydream during class with my mind focused on nothing in particular.
I do not take notes of important points in class.
I attend class without completing homework.
I resort to copying fellow students’ assignments or work.
I cannot concentrate in class.
I fail exams.
I get the exam details from friends.
I fail to meet assignment requirements.
I chat about things unrelated to lecture contents.
I use digital devices such as smartphones for non-class purposes during class.
I groom myself in class (e.g., do makeup, look in the mirror).
I disregard requests to be quiet and soon get back to chatting with friends.
In group or pair work, I will not talk to the other student(s) if they are people I
don’t know.
I will not do pair work if the other student is a person I don’t know.
I do not take a course if I have to do a presentation in class.
I do not take a course if it has group- or pair-work activities in class.
I will not take a course if it has a teacher hovering over in class to talk to individual
students.

46

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 201747

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 201748

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Discourses on Empowerment in Adult Learning: A View on
Renewed Learning
Luisa Daniele
ANPAL-National Agency for Active Labour Market Policies, Italy

49

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Abstract
The paper examines critically the dimension of empowerment in the European discourse,
starting from some operational definitions used in official documents. The author analyses theshift in the European documents from 2000 to recent years, from a lifelong learning vision toan adult education approach, basically labour market – oriented, thus leaving aside the social
cohesion and self-emancipatory dossiers. Against this background, a theoretical approach
derived from the categories of transaction and reflexivity is suggested, setting out from theworks of John Dewey. This paper investigates whether the categories of experience, problem
posing and emancipation are more suitable for a long-term project on adult learning than the
categories of activation, problem solving, and empowerment.
Keywords: empowerment; adult education; European policy; reflexivity; Dewey.

50

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Introduction
Some Operational Definitions of Empowerment
The basic question addressed in this paper is: Is empowerment a key concept for Adult
learning? The paper examines the dimension of empowerment in the European discourse,
starting from some operational definitions used in international and European Commission
documents. It investigates whether the categories of experience, problem posing andemancipation are more suitable for a long-term project on adult learning than the categories ofactivation, problem solving, and empowerment. The shift in international and European
documents from 2000 to recent years, from a lifelong learning vision to an adult education
approach, basically labour market – oriented, are analysed in the first section of the essay.
Against this background, a theoretical approach derived from the categories of transaction andreflexivity is suggested, setting out from the reflections of Dewey (1916; 1925; 1933; 1949)
and Mezirow (1978; 2000).
In this perspective, it is first of all necessary to analyse the context of the notion of
empowerment, by analysing some selected operational definitions given in official documentsfrom the European Commission and from international agencies:
Empowerment is the process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups tomake choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes.
Central to this process are actions which both build individual and collective assets,
and improve the efficiency and fairness of the organizational and institutional
context which govern the use of these assets. (Alsop, Bertelsen, & Holland, 2006,
p. 1)
Confident, informed and empowered consumers are the motor of economic change
as their choices drive innovation and efficiency (Commission of the European
Commission, 2007, p. 2). Empowered and informed consumers can more easily
make changes in lifestyle and consumption patterns contributing to theimprovement of their health, more sustainable lifestyles and a low carbon economy(p. 11).
Strengthening girls’ and women’s voice, and facilitating their participation andempowerment, is at the heart of the Commission services' and the EEAS’ efforts toenhancing gender equality through external relations. (European Commission,
2015, p. 10)
The concept of empowerment in these definitions seems to be related to notions such as agency,
autonomy, self-direction, self-determination, liberation, participation, mobilization and selfconfidence (Ibrahim & Alkire, 2007). The term empowerment, as an umbrella concept, hasbeen developed in social and educational literature and policy documents since the 1960s, andit has been used to describe the empowerment of marginalized individuals or groups (e.g.,
minorities, disabled people, women) to mobilize self-activation against social constraints or toencourage the development of entrepreneurship. Even among scholars, many definitions of
empowerment have been given since the 1980s: Rappaport (1984) defines empowerment as “aprocess: the mechanism by which people, organizations, and communities gain mastery overtheir lives” (p. 2). Craig and Mayo (1995) describe empowerment as being about collective
community and class conscientization, so as to challenge the powerful and ultimately to

51

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017transform the reality through conscious political struggle. For Zimmerman (2000),
empowerment is a tripartite concept articulated at the individual, organisational and community
levels. Albertyn (2001), from a similar position, estimates that empowerment is recognizable
only if change occurs at each of three levels: micro (attitude, feeling and skills), interface(participation and action around the individual, and macro (beliefs, action and effects).
Moser (1993) like Narayan (2005) refers to expanding assets and capabilities to participate in,
influence, and control institutions which affect everyday life; Grootaert and van Bastelaer(2002) introduce the notion of social capital and social institutions building as a further featureof empowerment. Alsop (2006), to the contrary, puts emphasis on the individual’s capacity tomake effective choices, that is, to obtain the desired actions and outcomes.
From Development and Emancipation to Functional Learning and Empowerment
In relation to adult learning, the notion of empowerment appears only in the late 1990s whenthe market labour-oriented dossier and economic issues prevail on the first enunciation on adultlearning policy. The notion of lifelong learning in the contemporary world can be traced backin the 1960s, to the definition given by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), to meet the challenges of a changing world. The second International
Conference on Adult Education held in 1960 on the theme Adult Education in a Changing
World stated that:
Recognizing the importance of Adult Education in a world of rapid change, thisConference urges all Member States of UNESCO to invest a higher proportion of
their resources in the development of Adult Education (p. 2).
The following Faure Report, in 1972, Learning to Be (UNESCO) underlined that “we propose
education as the master concept for educational policies in the years to come for both developed
and developing countries” (Faure, Herrera, Kaddoura, Lopes, Petrovsky, Rahnema, & Ward,1972). Thus a holistic interpretation of lifelong learning is usually adopted in relation to theFaure Report, which claimed that:
Every individual must be in a position to keep learning throughout his life. The ideaof lifelong education is the keystone of the learning society. The lifelong concept
covers all aspects of education, embracing everything in it, with the whole being
more than the sum of its parts. There is no such thing as a separate “permanent” partof education which is not lifelong. In other words, lifelong education is not an
educational system but the principle in which the over-all organization of a system
is founded, and which accordingly underlies the development of each of its
component parts (pp. 181–82).
As Schuetze (2006) stated, Faure’s idea of lifelong education “formulated the philosophicalpolitical concept of a humanistic, democratic and emancipatory system of learning
opportunities for everybody, independent of class, race or financial means, and independent of
the age of learner” (p. 290). However, in parallel with this humanistic interpretation of lifelong
education, the OECD reframed its lifelong discourse in more economistic and employability
terms as suggested in its report, entitled: “Recurrent Education: A Strategy for Lifelong
Learning” (1973) and underlined by Gelpi (1980) who pointed out that “in the industrializedcountries at the time of the economic boom of the 1960’s, the ideology of lifelong education =52

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

general education reflected in effect the necessity for the rapid training of workers at averageand higher levels in the vocational field” (pp. 1–2).
Twenty-eight years after the Faure Report, lifelong education has been transformed into
lifelong learning. In 1996 UNESCO’s Delors Report it was underlined that learning was a key
to the twenty-first century, and learning throughout life will be essential for adapting to theevolving requirements of the labour market and for better mastery of the changing time-frames
and rhythms of individual existence. Further, it was emphasized that:
There is a need to rethink and broaden the notion of lifelong education. Not only
must it adapt to changes in the nature of work, but it must also constitute acontinuous process of forming whole beings—their knowledge and aptitudes, aswell as the critical faculty and ability to act. It should enable people to develop
awareness of themselves and their environment and encourage them to play theirsocial role and work in the community (p. 21).
Several studies share the same conclusions: the presence of three main phases and points ofview on lifelong learning (Antikainen, 2009; Matheson and Matheson, 1996; Bagnall, 1990).
The first phase is represented by the humanistic concept, and the focus during the 1960’s would
have been on more comprehensive and integrated goals such as developing more humanindividuals and communities able to face social change. The second phase, after the 1980’s, isconnected with retraining and learning new skills that would enable workers to cope with thechange in the labour market and new technologies. The more economic point of view taken by
the both the OECD and the European Union, as Holford & Špolar (2014) pointed out, is also
related to recurrent education: education after compulsory schooling to alternate with periodsof work and other social activity. In the third and present phase lifelong learning has become
more individual-oriented: Griffin (1999) points out that emphasis in the lifelong learning
discourse on the learner could also be interpreted as assigning more agencies to individuals incontrast to the previous thrust on institutions, and structures. This means that the welfare statetries to abdicate its responsibility to provide opportunities in the labour market.
The Delors Report established the basis for the lifelong and life-wide prospect of lifelong
learning, giving way to the non – formal and informal learning to be recognised in the context
of the “learning society”, but some scholars observe that “by highlighting economic concerns,
the dominant discourse on lifelong learning offers a narrow and fragmented appreciation of
women and men’s roles in societies. In Europe, where there were record numbers of
unemployed in the nineties, lifelong learning was reintroduced to mean mere retraining”(Medel-Añonuevo, Ohsako, & Mauch, 2001, p. 5).
Within a framework of global crisis, job uncertainty, decreasing demand for low-skilled labour,and increased demand for highly qualified workers, lifelong learning “has gradually come tobe appropriated more and more within the narrower instrumentalist discourse of further training
and professional development” (Wain, 2001, p. 187).
In 1994 the European Lifelong Learning Initiative (ELLI) and the European Commission
organised the “First Global Conference on Lifelong Learning - A Survival Concept for the 21stCentury”, which stressed the importance of lifelong learning as initial and continuing
education:

53

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Education policy must provide for a continuous series of "second chance" trains andlifelong occasions to re-adapt, to develop one's intellectual and human potential,
and to unlock the human creativity essential to coping with global change in suchareas as the environment, population, employment and communications (p. 3).
Even in the UNESCO’s CONFINTEA V, held in Hamburg in 1997, lifelong learning had acentral role, both connected with the economic rationale and the wider societal objectives: “acontrast is often made between Faure’s (1972) maximalist, humanistic and liberating view oflifelong education, with a more pragmatic and economistic perspective – adopted byinternational organisations such as the OECD, the EU, and the World Bank – tending to treat
lifelong learning more instrumentally, as a means to achieve employability” (Holford, &Špolar, 2014, p. 38).
Education was raised to the attention of the European Commission’s policies only with theMaastricht Treaty, (Treaty on European Union [TEU], 1992) when it was only a marginal
concept, but the growing international competition showed the need for economic development
through education policies: “the Commission began to show interest particularly invocationally-oriented areas of lifelong learning such as school-to-work transitions and ‘adultanti-illiteracy campaigns’” (Holford, Riddell, Weedon, Litjens, & Hannan, 2008, p. 46).
1996 was proclaimed the European Year of Lifelong Learning, which had the main purpose to“make the European public aware of the importance of lifelong learning, to foster better
cooperation between education and training structures and the business community,
particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to help to establish a European area of
education and training through the academic and vocational recognition of qualifications within
the European Union, and to stress the contribution made by education and training to theequality of opportunities” (European Parliament and Council Decision n° 95/2493/EC of
23 October 1995 establishing 1996 as the European Year of Lifelong Learning, p. 1)
The main contribution to the global debate was the life wide and lifelong approach as definedby the cradle to grave formula, putting in the centre of the discussion not only the economic
aspects of learning but also issues such as “personal growth, participation in the democratic
decision-making process, recreational learning and active aging”, as claimed by the European
Commission (ibidem, p. 1). Next in the European strategy was the large debate on new basic
skills: information technology, foreign languages, entrepreneurship and social skills.
As Holford & Špolar underline, “If the key characteristic of lifelong education asconceptualised in the 1970s (and used in the UNESCO vocabulary until CONFINTEA V) was
its humanistic dimension, when lifelong learning emerged in national and international policies
in the 1990s, the emphasis was firmly on aiding economic performance, whether individual or
societal…Human capital has been closely associated with neo-liberal ideology; this approach
can be seen in the Memorandum on Lifelong Learning (CEC, 2000).” (2014, p. 41).
The Memorandum on Lifelong Learning derived from the conclusions of the Lisbon European
Council, in 2000 when the Lisbon Strategy was launched, in order to make “the European
Union the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world”(Commission Staff Working Paper, A Memorandum on Lifelong Learning, 2000, p. 3).
The conclusions of the Lisbon European Council confirmed that “the move towards lifelong
learning must accompany a successful transition to a knowledge-based economy and society.

54

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Therefore, Europe’s education and training systems are at the heart of the coming changes”(Commission Staff Working Paper, A Memorandum on Lifelong Learning, 2000, p. 3).
The six key messages contained (new basic skills for all; more investment in human resources;
innovation in teaching and learning; valuing learning; rethinking guidance and counselling andbringing learning closer to home) were intended to create a framework for an open debate: theaction plan which stemmed from the Memorandum consultation, Making a European Area ofLifelong Learning a Reality (Commission of the European Communities [CEC], 2001) changed
the priorities, “indicating a clear neoliberal agenda for economic growth through education and
Adult learning” (Holford and Špolar, 2012).
In the following years, the European Council launched the Strategic Framework for European
Cooperation in Education and Training (ET2020) (Council of the European Union [CEU],
2009): while in the document active citizenship and personal fulfilment is related to economic
growth and employability, a deeper analysis of the document reveals that lifelong learning isonly ancillary to employability rather than to social cohesion, active citizenship and personalfulfilment.
What is particularly remarkable here is that the European Union has been successful in shifting
the policy discourse from collectivities (communities or social classes) to individuals. The
social justice dossier still evoked in the 1960s and 1970s through the emphasis on citizenshiphas been turned into inclusion: there is no room for social distribution, but only for functional
integration. “The recent developments of Commission proposals reveal a strong preference fora liberal social model, even in relation to learning policies.” (Somek, 2013, p. 49). The
individual has been put at the centre, even in the bargaining procedures for training andeducation at workplaces: the Individual Learning Account - ILA, theorized and applied as an
approach in the nineties, especially in peripheral and smaller contexts has produced theprevalence of stronger and explicit demand for training and education (those who already havean easy access to training and education) thus leaving implicit and hidden the weakercomponents (those who are, in fact, most in need of training and education).
In the following years, the European Council launched the Strategic Framework for European
Cooperation in Education and Training (ET2020) (CEU, 2009): while in the document active
citizenship and personal fulfilment is related to economic growth and employability, a deeper
analysis of the document reveals that lifelong learning is only ancillary to employability morethan to social cohesion, active citizenship and personal fulfilment.
The Agenda for New Skills and Jobs: European Contribution Towards Full Employment (CEU,
2010) and the Renewed European Agenda for Adult Learning (CEU 2011) recognize the roleof lifelong learning to cope with the economic and employment crisis. “The crisis has
highlighted the major role which adults can play in achieving the Europe 2020 goals, byenabling adults – in particular the low-skilled and older workers – to improve their ability toadapt to changes in the labour market and society. Adult learning provides a means of upskilling or reskilling those affected by unemployment, restructuring and career transitions, aswell as makes an important contribution to social inclusion, active citizenship and personal
development” (CEU 2011, 372/01, p. 1).
Adult learning is tightly tied to the broad empowerment concept and its characteristics:
activation of the individuals, adaptation to changes (flexibility, in primis) in the society andlabour market. As Holford and Mohorčič (2014) claim, “Though still given an important55

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

position in policy, its focus has shifted towards areas which were seen as bringing
employability, employment and income. The Adult learning agenda has narrowed,
concentrating on more specific areas such as basic skills, increasing the proportion of 30–34
year-olds who have completed tertiary education (to 40% by 2020), and monitoring the Adult
learning sector (including through the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult
Competences PIAAC)” (p. 45).
The contemporary European discourse on Adult learning has given rise to an “emerging rightto individuality” (Franck, 1999, p. 1), which is parallel to the decline of the community.
“Individual freedom and empowerment are evaluated from a functional perspective if theirrealization is viewed as desirable with regard to what they contribute.… It becomes possible,then, to imagine a functional form of emancipation, that is, emancipation from being
dysfunctional, or, put differently, emancipation in the state of liberalization and privatization”(Somek, 2013, p. 61). Empowerment when concerning individuals or groups is always
involving activation on the basis of an empowering intervention such as a psychologicalcounselling or a sociological project or developing management. In the empowerment
approach, social change starts from individuals, basically considered, or grouped together bysome common features. The activation of mere individuals or grouped individuals arefunctional to the economic issues of the European Union: empowerment is relevant to obtain
more efficient production, better and cheaper products, or “to help individuals adjust to
globalisation and technological change” (CEC, 2008 – 412, p. 5). In a few words, to come backto our adult education and training issues, in the Renewed Social Agenda it is clearly stated
that, “Education and investing in human capital formation in general is critical to ensure labour
participation and social inclusion and to enhance the competitiveness of the EU” (CEC, 2008
– 412, p. 6) Two decades after the Faure’s Report and the raising of lifelong learning to theattention of the EU policy agenda, the social and cultural issues related to adult learning seems
to be considered as irrelevant and redundant in comparison with the skills maintenance andcompetitiveness dossier.
For a Different Notion of Adulthood
In this section a notion of adulthood different from the neo-liberal paradigm so far illustrated,
is suggested. This conception of an adult as being characterized in relation to his or her
functions – workers, citizen, father and mother – as we have examined in the previous section,
seems to be the premise of another definition, in which the adultness is conceived as the arrival
point of a cycle, that through subsequent “stages” leads the individual to his psychic andphysiological maturity (Alberici, 2002, p. 78). Both the functional and the stadial approach,placing emphasis on an adult conceived as the product of evolutionary phases or social roles,
they pay little attention to the process that leads the individual to become an adult, which isbasically a process of learning and reflexivity.
Many factors (precarious living conditions, economic globalization, technological changes,
crisis of traditional gender roles, etc.) undermine the adult model as a result, the final productof a unique stadial development. “Facing these changes, it seems relevant to identify possible
and different adult identities as plots, paths of growth involving individuals, but also as
indispensable fulcrums and pivots to orientate the development of the society” (Alberici, 2002,
p. 78).
Overcoming a dichotomous conception of adult identity, either as a response to functionaltasks, or as fulfilment of social roles in the community, there appears to be a third line of56

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

research in the field of adult education, the one linked to the interaction of these components
with a dimension of self-care, that is expressed in the need and the ability to reflect on him- or
herself, on his or her path and also in the projection of a possible future.
This emphasis on the complexity and versatility of being adult does not justify adulthood as an
unstructured, disengaged, weak condition, on the contrary, it leads to an evolutionary
continuity, in which individuals continuously redefine new objectives in terms of personal,
professional, social fulfilment. Adulthood is no longer the quiet harbour of the ‘Prudent Man’,
but rather a continual work of weaving which is characterized by a transition from one apical
phase in the process of defining adult identity, to another. As a result, the multidisciplinary
approach is the only one able to investigate and interpret the multiple assets and paths inadulthood. And, again, the permanent state of change and transformation justifies the paradigmof lifelong learning, putting a specific accent on reflective and experiential learning. In thisfield of investigation, learning is basically a process of meaning construction, where the apicaland everyday experiences become the substratum of knowledge through continuous
reorganization of heuristic, explorative and investigative functions. Knowledge and learning
are so configured as part of an eminently constructivist approach.
From these premises, even learning and cognitive processes are part of a process ofdevelopment and transformation: knowledge for the adult not only has an individual value, but
is also something that is produced and reproduced, it is exchanged and negotiated during
activities and social practices.
From Activity to Experience, from Problem Solving to Problem Posing
In this paragraph, the notions of experience and reflexivity are explored as possible alternatives
to the already discussed notion of activity and empowerment. This different approach tolearning and education in adulthood gives way to the definition of learning given by Dewey(1916) as “a continual reorganization, reconstruction and transformation of experience” (p. 50).
Dewey distinguishes carefully between activity and experience: only the attribution of a sense
and significance makes mere activity an experience, “Mere activity does not constituteexperience. It is dispersive, centrifugal, dissipating. Experience as trying involves change, butchange is meaningless transition unless it is consciously connected with the return wave ofconsequences which flow from it. When an activity is continued into the undergoing ofconsequences, when the change made by action is reflected back into a change made in us, themere flux is loaded with significance” (Dewey, 1916, p. 163).
An educative experience is one in which we find a connection between how we act on things
and what happens to things or to us in consequence; the value of an experience consists in theawareness of a continuity, which consists in a relationship among events. But what is the
direction of this continuity? Any experience is, after all, a social experience, is accomplishedin contact and communication, and requires a transmission from humans who have preceded
us, it is therefore not merely individual experience, but on the contrary, “There are sources
outside an individual that give rise to experience and external conditions always affecteducational experiences” (Dewey, 1916, p. 24). The experience in Dewey is therefore
perceived as the totality of natural phenomena, in their relations and transactions with theindividual.
The second essential principle for discriminating the experiences leading to learning from thosewhich do not is in fact, that of interaction. Interaction assigns “equal rights to both factors in57

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

experience-object and internal conditions” (Dewey, 1938, pp. 38–39). Moreover, “any normal
experience is an interplay of these two sets of conditions. Taken together, or in their interaction,
they form what we call a situation” (Dewey, 1938, p. 39). As a result, the individuals always
live in “the series of situation” (Dewey, 1938, p. 41), and the conceptions of situation and ofinteraction are inseparable from each other. The two principles of continuity and interaction
are connected to one another. They are the longitudinal and lateral dimension of the experience.
The other capital aspect in Dewey is reflective learning: according to Dewey reflective thinking
is somewhat uncomfortable and it causes perplexity when an individual encounters a situation
whose “whole full character is not yet determined” (Dewey, 1933, p. 157). The internal
experience for the learner is one of disequilibrium, until the search for a balance drives thelearner to do something to resolve it, thus starting the process of enquiry and reflection.
To have a genuine process of reflective thinking it is necessary to be able to linger in the doubt
and the perplexity of having no precise judgment on a fact or experience. This means thatreflective thinking, and the process of enquiry, should be actively taught: in other words, adultlearning should be concerned also by this question – how to teach adults to think – “One man’s
thought is profound while another’s is superficial; one goes to the roots of the matter, andanother touches lightly its most external aspects. This phase of thinking is perhaps the most
untaught of all, and the least amenable to external influence whether for improvement or harm.
The common assumptions that, if one only thinks, one thought is just as good for his mental
discipline as another, and that the end of study is the amassing of information, both tend tofoster superficial, at the expense of significant, thought” (Dewey, MW 6, p. 210). “The resultof the process of enquiry is “enriched meaning and value in things” (Dewey, 1929 (LW 1; EN,
p. 20), which means that present things are charged with significance because they are signs ofabsent things and this suggestion is confirmed by the present experience. We are still in thecontinuity of experience, “inferring signs in the present things and giving them a significancemakes the individuals more able to impress direction to themselves and to their environment,
as it gives increased power of control” (Dewey, 1929, LW1; EN p. 83).
Following the suggestions from Dewey’s works, we can observe that the accent on problem
solving adopted in measuring the performance of adults (International Adult Literacy Survey– IALS (1994–1998); Second International Adult Literacy Survey – SIALS (1999–2000);
Adult Literacy and Lifeskill – ALL (2001–2004); Programme for the International Assessmentof Adult Competencies – PIAAC (2010–2012) should not leave aside the question of how
adults learn to solve problems and if it is possible to teach how to improve this cognitive
process.
In this context, the work of Mezirow (1978) is relevant, as this author elaborated an approachto reflective thinking where, starting out from the works of Dewey, he subsequently develops
a critique of the premises, the conditions preceding the inquiry and the problem solving. In thisregard Mezirow states that Dewey meant critical thinking as the process by which assumptions
are examined and validated, but he never explicitly differentiated between reflection on thecontent of an issue or on problem solving process and the function, here called “reflection onpremises” (Mezirow, 1991, p. 7), which implies a review of the assumptions.
Therefore, according to Mezirow, while Dewey explains reflective thinking as a tool for
problem solving, transformative theory emphasizes the process of reflection as a process ofcritical revision of the premises, such as the patterns and perspectives of meaning, withreference to the problem setting or problem posing process.

58

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

In Mezirow’s thought, through reflection, we can analyse objectively the logic used to giveinterpretation of everyday life, so as to become critically aware of our own presuppositions andto challenge our established and habitual patterns of expectation and meaning perspectives.
The central function of reflection in Mezirow is identified as that of validating what is known.
Reflection, in the context of problem solving, commonly focuses on procedures or methods. It
may also focus on premises. Reflection on premises involves a critical view of distorted
presuppositions that may be epistemic, sociocultural or psychic, meaning schemes andperspectives that are not viable are transformed through reflection. Uncritically assimilated
meaning perspectives, which determine what, how, and why we learn, may be transformed
through critical reflection, “Reflection on one’s own premises can lead to transformative
learning” (Mezirow, 2000, p. 57).
The transformative theory embraces not only the methods of analysis of experiences, but also
the structures that the adult uses in the process of interpretation of the experience and theprocess of modification of the same structures. So, for Mezirow transformative thinking in
adult education is first of all emancipatory as it explores new and different hypothesis fromthose commonly accepted from previous relationships with oneself and with the society.
Transformative learning involves a particular function of reflection: reassessing thepresuppositions on which our beliefs are based and acting on insights derived from thetransformed meaning perspective that results from such reassessments. “Emancipatory
education is an organized effort to help the learner challenge presuppositions, explore
alternative perspectives, transform old ways of understanding, and act on new perspectives”.
(Mezirow, 2003, p. 212)
Against this background, the collective action, so often evoked in the paradigm of
empowerment, is only consecutive to the acquired awareness of the social inequalities andasymmetrical power relationships that perpetuate this inequalities, “Learners need to become
critically reflective of how these factors have shaped the ways they think and their beliefs sothey may take collective action to ameliorate them” (Mezirow, 2000, p. 28). In this context
central to the goal of Adult leaning in democratic societies is the aim of helping learners
become more aware of the context of their understandings and beliefs, more critically reflectiveon their tenets, and more effective in taking action. In this context, curriculum, instructional
methods, material assessment, and faculty and staff development should address both learnerobjectives and this goal of education.
Adult Learning, Competent Oligarchy and Functional Illiteracy
This passage deals with the contemporary state of the art in the field of adult education andlearning in the industrialized countries. At the end of the section some experiences relevant at
the beginnings of adult education in Italy are evoked as suggestions in order to get out of thedescribed impasse.
In all the industrialized countries we are witnessing a trend towards a basic division of the
population into layers, represented by advantaged groups with higher level of alphabetic culture
and larger disadvantaged groups with a consumerist push, though excluded from a valid
cultural fruition and with few instruments to allow a deep analysis of symbols and meaningsof the current culture. This majority is not only represented by a marginalized component, but

59

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

also by people who actively participate in the benefits of economic development at least witha high consumption capacity.
As an example, what we observe in Italy, in recent years, is that even though the prolongationof school years (compulsory school lasts 10 years, from 6 to 16 years old) has guaranteedprimary literacy for all, the current trend of diffusion of illiteracy maintains a connotation
opposite to the democratic development of the society. In fact, the spread of illiteracy in every
advanced country seems to go along with a lack of awareness on the part of the illiteratethemselves about the limits resulting from the regression of their literacy skills: on the contrary,
the process of development of contemporary society in the last century was driven by the claim
for a more central role on behalf of those who were held in the margins of communication andknowledge processes. In short, it is alarming that the spread of media and internet has suggested
a perception of adequacy related to the possibility of easy access to information and fastcommunication, nevertheless omitting the ability to approach a wealth of knowledge of greater
consistency, stability and depth, but with a greater effort in the access. "The illiteracy seems tobe accompanied by a failure in the capacity of reflection, which corresponds to a reduced ability
to interpret phenomena in rapid transformation as are those of the modern world... the illiteratecomponent of the society is opposed to the elite with advanced literacy skills, which enable ahigh level of understanding: the latter represents the new oligarchy" (Vertecchi, 2001, p. 47).
Another concerning phenomenon can be observed in the characteristics of the Italian
population as measured in IALS-SIALS surveys on literacy skills and more recently in PIAAC:
level 3 of competence (intermediate) are growing only very slowly in the younger age groups
who already participate in the labor market (26–35 years old). The slow increase of skills inyounger ages does not seem to go hand in hand with the expansion of access to secondary
education in Italy from the 1980s to today: this could therefore bring us to conclude that withouta policy for the maintenance of acquired skills the fall of skills and competences cannot beeffectively tackled, including the key competences related to numeracy and literacy.
Against this contemporary scenario, it is interesting to recall the first experiences thatcharacterize the beginnings of adult education in Italy, primarily those referring to It's NeverToo Late TV programmes in the1960s – aiming at fighting illiteracy, and the right to 150 paid
hours for study leave – a policy for the education of workers during the 1970s. On November
15, 1960, a series of television broadcasts started in Italy, entitled It's Never Too Late, thatwould bring, in the next eight years, more than one million illiterate people to achieve a primaryschool certificate. The program was conducted by an elementary school teacher, Alberto
Manzi, had a thrice-weekly structure, included lessons in Italian and mathematics and could be
followed over two thousand receiving points scattered throughout Italy: in bars, cafes, clubs of
the peninsula. The program It's Never Too Late was later awarded by UNESCO (Teheran 1965,
World Conference on Literacy) as one of the best television programs for the fight against
illiteracy. The evolution of adult education, in the following years, is parallel to the claim forthe right to study for workers, consisting of 150 hours of study leaves a year, which has been
gradually recognized in national contracts, starting from the textile sector in 1957, and finally
fully established in the Workers’ Statute in 1970.
In both experiences, the It’s Never Too Late courses for literacy on the television during the
1960s, and the claim for the right to 150 paid study hours during the 1970s, some common
traits explain their success, which can be useful to recall at present: first of all an associative orcollective context that, more than to focus on the individual, offers meanings and values inorder to motivate to learning; then, an adult education strategy which focuses on training needs,

60

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

and not only on the activation of a passive subject; a meaningful and transformative learning
particularly relevant for the weaker side of the demand for education, which brings to increase
lasting and fruitful skills, not only adaptive but also reflective competence so as to give tools
to the individuals to renew skills and knowledge.
Conclusions
The article moved from an initial question: Is empowerment a key concept for adult learning?
Through the analysis of the international and European documents on adult education andlearning the shift from a lifelong learning to a labour-market oriented paradigm has beenargued, as well as the swap between the emancipation dossier – with its inclusive, collective
and democratic issues – and the empowering dossier, where the functional aspects of learning
are emphasised; communities are reduced to targets (of disadvantaged categories; of census; ofentrepreneurs) and citizens are reduced to consumers; workers are required to be active andfunctional and not good learners and a short-term evaluation of learning and teaching isprevailing.
The author’s suggestion, moving from Dewey’s and Mezirow’s works, is to restore the notionof experience and emancipation in the paradigm of adult learning, so as to overtake the neoliberal paradigm of empowerment.
Even at the local level, in national policies, experiences that have been successful in tacklingfunctional illiteracy should be rediscovered and launched. The author quoted two experiencesin Italy during the 1960s and the 1970s (It’s Never Too Late television programmes to fightilliteracy and the claim for 150 paid hours for study in national agreements) which werecharacterised by some common traits, that should be now be brought to light again, such as acollective context; meanings and values in order to motivate especially the weaker side of thedemand for learning; a transformative learning which brings to increase not only adaptive
skills, but also lasting and reflective competences in order to renew learning throughout life.
Global neo-liberalism insists on considering us as individuals who compete – winning or losing– in the labour market. Still, the neo liberal paradigm recognizes the right to study and to
training: we should consider to use this right to acquire the capacities of a freely thinking humanbeing and citizen, acting with creative and social needs, not only as human capital.

61

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

References
Alberici, A. (2002). L’educazione degli adulti. Roma: Carocci.
Albertyn, R. M., Kapp, C. A., & Groenewald, C. J. (2001). Patterns of empowerment inindividuals through the course of a life-skills programme in South Africa, Studies in the
Education of Adults, 33(2), 180–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/02660830.2001.11661453
Alsop, R., Bertelsen, M., & Holland, J. N. (2006). Empowerment in practice from analysis toimplementation, Washington DC: World Bank.
Antikainen, A. (2009). Lifelong learning. A study for the foundation for European Progressive
Studies. Brussels: Foundation for European Progressive Studies.
Bagnall, R. (1990). Lifelong education: The institutionalisation of an illiberal and regressive
ideology?
Educational
Philosophy
andTheory,22(1)1–7.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-5812.1990.tb00419.x
Commission of the European Communities (CEC). (2000). Memorandum on lifelong learning.
Brussels: Commission of the European Communities.
CEC. (2001). Making a European area of lifelong learning a reality (COM(2001)678 final).
Brussels: Commission of the European Communities.
CEC. (2006). Adult learning: It is never too late to learn. Brussels: Commission of theEuropean Communities.
CEC. (2007). Adult learning: It is always a good time to learn. Brussels: Commission of theEuropean Communities.
CEU. (2008). Council conclusions of 22 May 2008 on adult learning. Official Journal of theEuropean Union, 2008/C 140/09.
CEU. (2009). Council conclusions of 12 May 2009 on a strategic framework for European
cooperation in education and training (‘ET 2020’). Official Journal of the European
Union 2009/C 119/02.
CEU. (2010). Council conclusions of 11 May 2010 on the social dimension of education andtraining. Official Journal of the European Union 2010/C 135/02.
CEU. (2011). Council resolution on a renewed European agenda for adult learning. Official
Journal of the European Union, 2011/C 372/01.
Craig, G., & Mayo M. (1995). Community empowerment: A reader in participation anddevelopment. London: Zed Books.
Delors, J. et al. (1996). Learning: The treasure within. Paris: UNESCO.
Dewey, J. (1916). Democracy and education. New York: McMillan.
Dewey, J. (1978). How we think: A restatement of the relation of reflective thinking to theeducative process. In J. A. Boydston (Ed.) John Dewey: The middle works, 1899–1924:
Vol. 6. (177–356). Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. (Original work
published 1910). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9666-3

62

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Dewey, J. (1981). Experience and nature. In J. A. Boydston (Ed.). John Dewey: The later
works, 1925–1953: Vol. 1. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. (Original
work published 1925).
Dewey J., & Bentley, A. F. (1991). Knowing and the known. In John Dewey: The later works,
1925-1953: Vol.16. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. (Original work
published 1941).
European Commission (2015). Gender equality and women's empowerment: transforming the
lives of girls and women through EU external relations 2016-2020. In Joint Staff working
document(182).
Retrievedon
August
19,
2017
from
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/staff-working-document-gender-20162020-20150922_en.pdf
European Commission Directorate-General XXVI Education, T.a.Y. (1996). Report from theCommission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation, results and overall
assessment of the European Year of Lifelong Learning. Brussells: European Commision.
Faure, E., Herrera, F., Kaddoura, A., Lopes, H., Petrovsky, A. V., Rahnema, M., & Ward, F.
C. (1972). Learning to be: The world of education today and tomorrow. Paris: UNESCO.
Franck, T. M. (1999). The empowered self: Law and society in the age of individualism.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gelpi, E., (1980). Politics and lifelong learning policies and practice. In A. J. Cropley (Ed.),
Towards a system of lifelong learning (pp. 16–30). Hamburg: UNESCO Institute for
Education.
Grootaert, C., & van Bastelaer (2002). Understanding and measuring social capital: A multidisciplinary tool for practitioners. Washington: World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/08213-5068-4
Griffin, C. (1999). Empowering mayors, hospital directors, or patients? The decentralizationof health care. In S. J. Burki, G. E. Burki, and W. R. Dillinger (Eds.) Beyond the center:
Decentralizing the state, (pp. 12–29). Washington, DC: World Bank.
Holford, J., Riddell, S., Weedon, E., Litjens, J., & Hannan, G. (2008). Patterns of lifelong
learning, policy & practice in an expanding Europe. Vienna: Lit Verlag.
Holford, J., & Špolar, V. (2014). Adult Learning: From the Margins to the Mainstream. In M.
Milana, & J. Holford (Eds.), Adult education policy and the European Union: Theoreticaland methodological perspectives (35–52). Rotterdam, Boston, Taipei: Sense Publishers.
Ibrahim, S., & Alkire, S. (2007) Agency and empowerment: A proposal for internationallycomparable indicators. Oxford: OPHI Working Paper. Retrieved August 19, 2017 fromhttp://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/OPHI-wp04.pdf
Kallen, D. (1973). Recurrent education: a strategy for lifelong learning. (Centre for
Educational Research and Innovation). Paris: OECD.
Matheson, C., & Matheson, D. (1996). Lifelong learning and lifelong education: A critique.
Research
in
Post
Compulsory
Education,
1(2).
https://doi.org/10.1080/1359674960010207

63

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Mayor, F. (1994). Lifelong learning for the 21st century. Conference address: First Global
Conference on Lifelong Learning. Retrieved fromhttp://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0010/001001/100188e.pdf
Medel-Añonuevo, C. Ohsako, T., & Mauch, W. (2001). Revisiting lifelong learning for the 21st
century. Hamburg: UNESCO Institute for Education.
Mezirow, J. (1978). Perspective transformation. Adult Education Quarterly, 28, 100–110.
https://doi.org/10.1177/074171367802800202
Mezirow, J. (1990). Fostering critical reflection in adulthood: A guide to transformative andemancipatory
learning.
Retrieved
July
30,
2016
from
http://www.ln.edu.hk/osl/conference2011/output/breakout/4.4%20%5Bref%5DHow%2
0Critical%20Reflection%20triggers%20Transformative%20Learning%20%20Mezirow.pdf
Mezirow, J. (2000). Learning as transformation: Critical perspective on a theory in progress.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Mezirow, J. (2003). How critical reflection triggers learning. In P. Jarvis & C. Griffin (Eds.)
Adult and continuing education: Teaching, learning and research. New York:
Taylor&Francis
Moser, C. (1993). Gender planning and development theory, practice and training. London:
Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203411940
Narayan, D. (2005). Measuring empowerment: Cross disciplinary perspectives. Washington,
DC:
World
Bank.
Retrieved
August
19,
2017
from
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/7441 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
Rappaport, J. (1984). Studies in empowerment: Introduction to the issue. Prevention in Human
Services, 3, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1300/J293v03n02_02
Schuetze, H. G. (2006). International concepts and agendas of lifelong learning. Compare,36(3), 289–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057920600872381
Somek, A. (2013). Europe: From emancipation to empowerment. LSE Europe in Question
Discussion Paper Series No 60/2013. London: London School of Economics.
UNESCO (1960). World conference on adult education: Final report. Retrieved August 19,
2017 from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0002/000245/024536eb.pdf
Vertecchi, B. (2001). La scuola italiana da Casati a Berlinguer. Milano: Franco Angeli.
Wain, K. (2001). Lifelong learning: Small adjustment or paradigm shift? In D. Aspin, J.
Chapman, M. Hatton & Y. Sawano (Eds.), International handbook of lifelong learning(pp. 183–198). London, UK: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Zimmerman, M. A. (2000). Empowerment theory: Psychological, organizational andcommunity levels of analysis. In Rappaport, J. & Seidman, E. (Eds.), Handbook ofcommunity psychology (pp. 43–63). Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic
Publishers, xxi.
Corresponding author: Luisa Daniele
Email: luisa.daniele69@gmail.com

64

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

65

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

66

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Factors Affecting Teachers’ Perceived Proficiency in Using ICT in theClassroom
Prema Basargekar & Chandan Singhavi
K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, India

67

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Abstract
Effective implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) plays animportant role in school education, especially in a developing country like India, to improve
the quality of education. School teachers’ lack of confidence and motivation for using ICT is
one of the major barriers of its implementation in schools. These barriers can be either nonmanipulative (i.e. which cannot be changed) or manipulative (i.e. which can be changed withthe help of school/government policies). This paper studies the impact of non-manipulative andmanipulative teachers’ factors on their perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classrooms.
It uses the primary data of 515 school teachers from the Maharashtra region of India teachingat high-school level (8th grade to 12th grade). The study concludes that both non-manipulative
as well as manipulative teachers’ factors are important in affecting teachers’ perception
regarding their own proficiency in using ICT in the classrooms. The study also provides somesuggestions to improve the perception by changing some manipulative factors.
Keywords: ICT; manipulative and non-manipulative teachers’ factors; teachers’ perceived
confidence.

68

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Introduction
One of the major challenges in school education in a developing country like India is to bringbetter quality and standardization. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can bea very valuable tool to tackle this problem. ICT not only helps in the teaching and learning
process, it also helps in assessment and evaluation, as well as in promoting inclusive education(Tikam, 2013). ICT can provide better access to educational resources, improve the quality oflearning, improve teachers’ productivity and can act as an effective tool to bridge the digital
divide between various socio-economic strata. It also enhances students’ participation which
improves their success rate (Naji, 2017). Success or failure of ICT implementation depends on
how teachers perceive themselves to be proficient in using ICT in the classroom. Teachers’
perception related to their proficiency is influenced both by non-manipulative teachers’ factors(demographic characteristics of the teachers) and manipulative teachers’ factors (such as
language of delivery, school board, training facilities, etc.) This paper studies the influence of
non-manipulative as well as manipulative teachers’ factors in forming their perception relating
to their proficiency in using ICT in the classroom. It uses the primary data of 515 teachers
teaching at high school level (8th grade to 12th grade) from Mumbai Metropolitan Region,
Maharashtra, India.
Literature Review
ICT stands for a diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate and tocreate, disseminate, store and manage information. Existing research has proven a positive
relationship between the active and positive role of the teachers and the successful
implementation of ICT in the classrooms (Granger et al., 2002). Afshari et al. (2009) made a
distinction between non-manipulative and manipulative teacher factors. Non-manipulative
factors are those such as a teacher’s age, work experience, gender, etc. which cannot be
influenced by the external environment or by the school. Manipulative factors are those suchas the school board, the language of delivery, teachers’ training programs, infrastructure, etc.
which can be influenced by the external environment or by school management. This
classification is also adopted by other researchers such as Drent and Meelissen (2008).
Many authors have made an attempt to see the effect of personal attributes of the teachers on
successful implementation of ICT. Buaneng-Andoh (2012) stated that personal characteristics
like gender, age, educational qualifications and teaching experience of the teachers play animportant role in effective implementation of ICT in the classrooms.
Gender is one of the attributes which affects the attitude towards computers. The discussion on‘gender’ as an attribute affecting teachers’ factor is important as it might have a long-term
impact on implementation of ICT in the classrooms. It can also throw some light on policy
implication at the school as well as at the governmental level. Volman et al. (2005) reported
that girls show a lower attitude to learning ICT based skills from secondary school onwards
which later is reflected in lower self-confidence in using computers. Jamieson-Proctor, Burnett,
Finger and Watson (2006) found that female teachers are less likely to use ICT in classrooms
compared to their male counterparts on account of a lower level of confidence.
Teaching/working experience of teachers is another attribute which may influence
implementation of ICT in the classrooms. The existing research shows that there are mixed
results to be found in the relationship between teacher’s work experience and their use of ICT
in the classrooms. For example, Hernandez-Ramos (2005) stated that teachers’ understanding69

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017of the use of technology for education as well as overall work experience will have a positive
impact in building a positive attitude towards ICT. Lau and Sim (2008) also demonstrated thatexperienced teachers are more willing to use technology in the classroom. At the same time
Wachiuri (2015) found that there is no correlation between teacher’s work experience and theiruse of ICT in the classrooms. Baek, Jong, and Kim (2008) found the opposing relationshipbetween work experience and ICT use in the classroom. They argued that more experienced
teachers are in fact reluctant to use technology in the classrooms as compared to nonexperienced and young teachers. Afshari et al. (2009) also pointed out that teachers with fewer
years of experience are likely to use computers more than teachers with more years ofexperience. These two opposing views might also imply different policy perspectives withrespect to selection of schools, teachers for implementation of ICT in the schools as well as fordevelopment of course material for teachers’ training program in ICT.
Teachers’ experience of working with computers is found to have a positive relationship with
their use of ICT in the classrooms (Lou and Sim, 2008; Hernandez-Ramos, 2005). The authors
further state that exposure to technology and knowledge of software application is vitally
important for successful implementation of ICT. Gilakjani (2013) mentioned that computer
self-efficacy or teachers’ judgment related to their own proficiency in computers plays animportant role in their using ICT in the classroom.
Manipulative teachers’ factors relate to school environment such as the type of school board,
language of delivery, teachers’ training program facilities and the type of subjects taught by
the teachers. These factors can be controlled or changed by designing and implementing
effective policies at the school and the governmental level.
In most of the developing countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, there are two
types of Educational Boards which govern the school system. The Education Board is acontrolling authority of an education system or a unit of it. The State sponsored school system
is governed by Secondary School Certificate (SSC). Private school education is governed bydifferent boards such as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Indian Certificate
for Secondary Education (ICSE) and International Baccalaureate (IB). Education boards havea very important role in designing the school curriculum and other school administration, which
in turn has an impact on ICT implementation at the school level. State sponsored schools which
are governed by the SSC board mainly cater to mass education and mostly use regional
language as the medium of delivery. Private schools governed by other boards mainly cater toa better socio-economic class and use English as a language of delivery.
Language of delivery can also act as one of the factor affecting use of ICT. In many developing
countries like India and Bangladesh many schools are using regional languages as a languageof delivery. English being the dominant language of computer software, it also supports ICT
and ICT supported tools. ICT is integrated in the school syllabus in two ways. Firstly, it is used
as one of the compulsory subject which is taught at higher grades such as 9th grade onwards.
Secondly it is used as an effective tool to teach various subjects such as mathematics, social
sciences or languages. ICT will become truly effective only if it is used as a tool to teach othersubjects and not as a separate tool. For this purpose, it is most essential that electronic content
is available in regional languages in which the majority of the children are learning. Lack ofappropriate ICT content in the regional languages is one of the challenges of the use of ICT(Khan, Hasan and Clement, 2012).

70

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Many studies such as Bingimlas (2009), Unwin (2005), Galanouli, Murphy and Gardner (2004)
have pointed out the importance of teachers’ training programs for integrating ICT successfullyin the school education. Teachers’ training programs not only help in building technology
literacy, but also motivate teachers to use ICT in the classrooms (Hennessy, Harrison andWamakote, 2010; Abuhmaid, 2011). Lack of in-service training is cited as one of the major
barriers for integrating ICT in the classroom by many studies (Gotkas and Yildirim, 2009; Ali,
Haolader and Muhammad, 2013). Kay (2006) analyzed the gender differences in pre-service
teachers before and after a training program (laptop program). The authors conclude thatthough there were significant differences in the attitude before the program, they were
mitigated after the program.
The existing research showed that personal characteristics of the teachers have a significant
impact on the successful implementation of ICT in the classroom. It also pointed out thatexternal environment like teachers’ training programs; government policy; infrastructuralavailability can bring out positive changes. It is observed that comparatively less study is donein the context of developing economies like India. Developing countries can use ICT as one of
the tools to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural schools or between private andpublic schools. In fact, there is a risk of widening this divide if the positive actions are not taken
on time. It is in this context that this study is related to identifying teachers’ factors affective
their perceived proficiency in implementing ICT in the classroom.
Objectives
The main objective of the study was to ascertain the impact of non-manipulative andmanipulative teacher factors on teachers’ perception related to their proficiency in using ICT
in the classrooms. The specific objectives were as follows:• To discover the impact of non-manipulative teacher factors such as age, gender, work/
teaching experience, experience of working with computers, on teachers’ perception of
their proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
• To explore the impact of manipulative teacher factors such as school board, language ofdelivery, teachers’ training programs facilities and the subjects taught on teachers’
perception related to their proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
Methodology
The study used the primary data of 515 teachers teaching 5th to 10th grade. They were surveyedfrom Mumbai Metropolitan region, Maharashtra, India. They represent different schools fromdifferent boards such as SSC board, CBSC board, ICSE board or IB board. They came fromschools providing education using different languages of delivery such as English medium
schools or Regional medium schools.
Teachers’ perception related to their proficiency in using ICT in the classroom was investigatedusing a Likert scale of 16 parameters.

71

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Table 1: Teachers’ perception related to their proficiency.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

I can use power point in my class
I can use email to communicate with other teachers and students
I can create a document in Microsoft word
I can print a document in Microsoft word
I can use formula in spreadsheet
I can teach my students creating newsletter using desktop publishing
I can select appropriate software to use in my teaching
I can design technology enhanced learning activities for my students
I can teach my students to use appropriate software to use in their projects
I can teach my students how can they make their own webpages
I can use internet in my class to meet certain learning goals
Computers help students to understand concepts clearly
I can teach students to use graphics software to create pictures
I can teach students use scanners to capture graphics, photos and/or text
I can teach students import clipart into text
I can teach my students browsing WWW‘1’ represents the lowest rank and ‘5’ represents the highest rank. The mean of these 16
parameters is taken as an index of teachers’ perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
An ANOVA test is used to see whether the difference across the categories is statisticallysignificant or not.
Results
The data analysis is done in two parts: Descriptive analysis and inferential analysis. The
descriptive analysis provides the profile of the surveyed teachers and their own perception
related to computer proficiency. The inferential analysis shows the relationship between
different manipulative and non-manipulative factors and teachers’ perception related to
proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
Descriptive Analysis
The basic profile of the surveyed teachers is given in Table 2.
Table 2: Profile of the surveyed teachers.
Sr. No1Particulars
Gender2

Age category3

Language of delivery

Categories
Male
FemaleTotal
21 years to 30 years
30 years to 45 years
46 years and above
Non reporting
Total
EnglishRegional

72

Number
128
387
515
93
269
113
40
515
369
146

Percent
25
75
100
18
52
22
8
100
72
28

IAFOR Journal of Education

4

5

6

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Total
Work experience
1 year to 5 years
6 years to 15 years
16 years and above
Non reporting
Total
Experience to work 1 year to 5 years
with computers
6 years and above
Non reporting
Total
Subjects taught
Technical
Non-technicalTechnical+
Nontechnical
Total

515
124
166
203
22
515
263

100
24
32
39
4
100
41

183
69
515
217
208
90

36
13
100
42
40
17

515

100

The table reveals that nearly 75 percent of the surveyed teachers are female. More than 50
percent belong to the age group of 30 to 45 years. Most of them are teaching in English medium
schools. Around 39 percent of the surveyed teachers have work experience more than 16 years.
Forty-one percent have experience in working with the computer for at least 1 to 5 years. Thereis a good mix of teachers teaching technical and non-technical subjects.
Perception Related to Computer Proficiency Score
The surveyed teachers were asked to provide their perception related to their proficiency inusing ICT in the classroom. The Likert scale was used to measure it ranging from 1 scoring thelowest to 5 scoring for highest perceived proficiency. 15 parameters were used to cover various
uses of ICT in the classroom ranging from simple using power point presentation in the classto helping students to make their web pages. The scale used to measure perceived proficiencyof the teachers is taken from Papanastasiou and Angeli (2008). It is modified to suit Indian
context. The details of the same are given in Table 3.
Table 3: Details of the perception related to Proficiency in ICT score.
Sr.
noParameters of proficiency in ICT

Number Mean Std.
Dev

Minimum Maximum

1
2

I can use power point in my class
I can use email to communicate
with other teachers and students
I can create a document in
Microsoft word
I can print a document in
Microsoft word
I can use formula in spreadsheet
I can teach my students creating
newsletter
using
desktop
publishing

508

3.95

1.04

1.00

5.00

503

3.86

1.07

1.00

5.00

508

4.06

.98

1.00

5.00

509

4.05

1.05

1.00

5.00

499

3.89

1.11

1.00

5.00

492

3.61

1.14

1.00

5.00

3
4
5
6

73

IAFOR Journal of Education

7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

I can select appropriate software
to use in my teaching
I can design technology enhanced
learning activities for my students
I can teach my students to use
appropriate software to use in
their projects
I can teach my students how canthey make their own webpages
I can use internet in my class tomeet certain learning goals
I can teach students to use
graphics software to create
pictures
I can teach students use scanners
to capture graphics, photos and/or
text
I can teach students import clipart
into text
I can teach my students browsing
WWW
Overall Proficiency score

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

499

3.75

1.09

1.00

5.00

499

3.60

1.15

1.00

5.00

500

3.71

1.09

1.00

5.00

500

3.26

1.24

1.00

5.00

500

3.76

1.18

1.00

5.00

498

3.45

1.28

1.00

5.00

495

3.50

1.19

1.00

5.00

499

3.70

1.19

1.00

5.00

503

3.93

1.05

1.00

5.00

515

3.74

0.95

.00

5.00

The overall score of perception related to proficiency in ICT is 3.74 out of maximum 5. It
ranges from minimum zero to maximum 5. The data shows that it ranges widely across different
parameters of proficiency. It is found to be higher in using computers for routine functions likecreating a word doc (4.06), printing a document (4.05) and using power point presentation in aclassroom (3.95). It is lower in more technical use of computers such as helping students tomake their own web pages (3.26), teaching with the help of graphic software (3.45) and using
the scanners to capture graphics, text, etc. (3.50).
Inferential Analysis
ANOVA was used to discover the impact of non-manipulative and manipulative factors onteachers’ perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
Impact of Non-manipulative Factors
A number of non-manipulative factors such as gender, age group, teaching/ working experience,experience to work with the computers, and the type of subjects taught by the teacher wereconsidered for further analysis.
Impact of Gender on Teachers’ Perceived Proficiency in Using ICT
The surveyed teachers were classified into male and female s to examine the impact of genderon their perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
H1: The difference in gender of teachers affects their perceived proficiency in using ICT in theclassroom.

74

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Table 4: Perceived proficiency in using ICT as per the gender.
Sr. No12
Total

GenderMale
FemaleTotal

Number
128
387
515

Mean
3.58
3.82
3.76

S.D
1.12
.88
.95

Minimum
.00
.00
.00

Maximum
5.00
5.00
5.00

The mean of perceived proficiency in using ICT of female teachers is higher than that of maleteachers. It is found that the difference across the categories of the gender is statisticallysignificant as p < 0.05. This finding is different from that reported in the existing literature.
Impact of Age Group on Perceived Proficiency in Using ICT
The surveyed teachers were classified into 3 categories as per the age group 21 years to 30
years, 31 years to 45 years and 46 years and above.
H2: The difference in age-group of teachers affects their perceived proficiency in using ICT in
the classroom.
Table 5: Perceived proficiency in using ICT as per the age group.
Sr. No Age Group1
21 years to 30 years
2
30 years to 45 years
46 years and above
Total Total

Number
93
269
113
475

Mean
3.97
3.71
3.69
3.76

S.D
.83
.93
1.04
.94

Minimum
1.00
.00
.00
.00

Maximum
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00

The mean of perceived proficiency score is highest for the age group of 21 years to 30 years
and lowest for the last group of 46 years and above. The difference across the groups is foundout to be statistically significant as p < 0.05. This finding confirms some of the earlier studies
by stating that younger teachers are relatively more confident and enthusiastic to use ICT in
the classroom.
Impact of Work/Teaching Experience on Perceived Proficiency in Using ICT
In order to see whether work experience has any impact on the perceived proficiency or not,the surveyed teachers were classified into three groups such as working experience up to 1 to
5 years, 6 to 15 years and 26 and above.
H3: The difference in working/ teaching experience of the teachers affects their perceived
proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
Table 6: Perceived proficiency in using ICT as per the working/teaching experience.
Sr. No123Total

Teaching/Working experience
1 year to 5 years
6 years to 15 years
16 years and above
Total

Number
124
166
203
493

75

Mean
3.96
3.74
3.69
3.77

S.D
.81
.94
1.00
.94

Minimum
1.00
.00
.00
.00

Maximum
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

The mean of perceived proficiency in using ICT is higher in the first category of 1 to 5 yearsof work experience and lowest in the third category of work experience of 16 years and above.
The difference across the three categories is statistically significant (p < 0.05). This finding
goes in tandem with our earlier finding of perceived proficiency with the age group of thesurveyed teachers.
Impact of Experience to Work with Computers on Perceived Proficiency in Using ICT
The surveyed teachers were classified into three groups such as working experience up to 1 to
5 years, 6 to 15 years and 26 and above.
H4: The difference in teacher’s experience to work with computers affects their perceived
proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
Table 7: Perceived proficiency in using ICT as per the experience to work with computers.
Sr. No12
Total

Experience to work
computers
1 year to 5 years
6 years to 15 years
16 years and above
Total

with Number
69
263
183
515

Mean S.D Minimum Maximum
3.76
3.67
3.90
3.76

.98
.93
.95
.95

.00
.00
.00
.00

5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00

It can be seen that with rising years of experience to work with the computers the mean ofperceived proficiency in using ICT is also rising. The difference across the categories isstatistically significant (p < 0.05).
Impact of the Type of Subjects Taught on the Perceived Proficiency in Using ICT
It is believed that some of the subjects like mathematics, science and computers (technicalsubjects) might be more easily learnt with the help of technology as compared to other subjects
such as languages, social sciences, etc. (non-technical subjects). In order to find out whether
the perceived proficiency differs due to the type of the subjects taught or not, the surveyed
teachers were classified into three groups such as those who teach technical subjects, those whoteach non-technical subjects and those who teach both type of subjects.
H5: The difference in the type of subjects taught by the teachers affects their perceived
proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
Table 8: Perceived proficiency in using ICT as per the subjects taught.
Sr. No1
2
3
Total

Subjects taught
Technical
Non- technical
Both
Total

Number
217
208
90
515

Mean
3.72
3.73
3.95
3.76

S.D
1.02
.95
.73
.95

Minimum
.00
.00
2.00
.00

Maximum
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00

It is seen that the mean of perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom amongst theteachers teaching technical subjects (like mathematics, science and computer) is not so76

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

different than the teachers teaching non-technical subjects (like languages, social sciences, etc.).
Also the mean of perceived proficiency of teachers taking both technical as well as nontechnical subjects is higher than other two categories. The difference across the categories is
not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
Impact of Manipulative Factors on Perceived Proficiency of Teachers in Using ICT in theClassroom
Manipulative factors included in this study are related to school environment such as type ofschool board, language of delivery and the teachers’ training program facilities.
Impact of Type of School Board on Teachers’ Perceived Proficiency in Using ICT
The surveyed teachers belong to four different types of boards. They are as follows:a. Secondary School Certificate (SSC board) – These schools are also popularly known as
state board school run with the help of state government grantb. Central Board of Secondary Education – CBSE
c. Indian Certificate for Secondary Education (ICSE)
d. International Baccalaureate (IB)There is a significant difference between the SSC board schools and other board schools. Mostof the other board schools are privately run. They have better amenities and they mainly caterto higher socio-economic strata in the society as compared with SSC board school. They all
are English medium schools. Most of the SSC board schools are catering to mass educationand many of them are regional medium schools. In order to find out whether the type of board
has any impact on teachers’ perceived proficiency in using ICT, they were classified into twogroups: SSC board and other boards. This classification also reflects the difference between
state board schools and private schools.
H06: The difference in the type of school board will not have any impact on perceived
proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
H6: The difference in the type of school board in which teachers are working affects theirperceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
Table 9: Perceived proficiency in using ICT as per the school board.
Sr. No1
23School Board
SSC
Other Boards
Total

Number
353
159
512

Mean
3.65
4.03
3.77

S.D
.96166.88175.95261Minimum
.00
.00
.00

Maximum
5.00
5.00
5.00

The mean of perceived proficiency in using ICT is lower for teachers working in SSC board
than that of other boards. This difference is found out to be statistically significant (P < 0.05).
As mentioned earlier, most of the SSC board schools cater to the mass education where theinfrastructural resources are relatively less as compared to other board schools.

77

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Impact of Language of Delivery on Teachers’ Perceived Proficiency in Using ICT
Language of delivery can have a strong impact on the teachers’ perceived proficiency in ICT.
In order to see that the surveyed teachers were classified into two groups such as those who are
working in regional medium schools and in English medium schools.
H7: The difference in language of delivery of the school affects teachers’ perceived proficiency
in using ICT in the classroom.
Table 10: Perceived proficiency in using ICT as per the language of delivery.
Sr. No12
Total

Language of delivery
EnglishRegional
Total

Number
369
146
515

Mean
3.88
3.47
3.76

S.D
.86
1.09
.95

Minimum
.00
1.00
.00

Maximum
5.00
5.00
5.00

The data analysis reveals that the mean of perceived proficiency in using ICT for teachers
working in English medium schools is significantly higher than that of teachers working inregional medium schools. This difference across the two categories is statistically significant
as p < 0.05.
Impact of Teachers’ Training Programs on Teachers’ Perceived Proficiency in Using ICT
Teachers’ training programs play an important role in building computer skills and in creating
positive attitude towards using ICT in the classroom. The surveyed teachers were asked about
the type of training taken by them to improve their proficiency. It is as follows:
Table 11: The list of training modules to improve proficiency of teachers in using ICT.
Sr. No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

List of the modules
Introductory course on internet use
Introductory course on general application (Basic word, spreadsheet,presentation)
Advanced course on applications (advanced word processing, relational
databases, visual learning environment etc.)
Advanced course on internet use (creating website/home page, videoconferencing etc...)Equipment specific training (interactive white board software, laptop, etc..)
Courses on pedagogical use of ICT in teaching and learning
Subjects specific training on learning applications (tutorials, simulations,
etc…)
Courses on multimedia (using digital video, audio equipment)
Participating in online communities (e.g. mailing list, twitter, blogs etc..) for
professional discussion with other teachers
ICT training provided by school staff
Personal learning about ICT in your own time
Other training related to ICT
How to use ICT to support assessment of learning
Planning and implementing e-learning in your class or school78

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

The list covers a variety of training modules ranging from a basic introductory course such as
using internet to advanced courses such as use of multi-media, simulations, etc. The teachers
were classified based on the number of modules they had covered in the overall training
programs such as: training facility not accessed, 1 to 4 modules, 5 to 10 modules, and above
10 modules.
H8: The number of Teachers’ training program attended by teachers affects their perceived
proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
Table 12: Perceived Proficiency in using ICT as per teachers’ training program facility in termsof number of modules covered in the training programs.
Sr. No Category of training modules Number Mean S.D Minimum Maximum
1036
3.50 .87 1.00
5.00
2
1-4
88
3.60 .91 1.00
5.00
3
5-10
156
3.86 .99 .00
5.00
4
Above 1160
3.88 .88 1.00
5.00
Total
340
3.76 .95 .00
5.00
The data analysis shows that the mean of perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom
is rising as per the rising number of modules covered in the training program. The difference
across all the categories is statistically significant (p < 0.05). It can thus be concluded thatteacher training programs have an impact on perceived proficiency in using ICT in theclassroom.
Summary of Findings
Table 13 gives the summary of inferential analysis about acceptance or rejection of hypotheses.
Table 13: Acceptance and rejection of hypotheses.
Sr. no1

Hypotheses
Gender2

Age group3

5

Teaching/working
experience
Experience to workwith computers
Subjects taught

6

School board

7

Language of delivery

8

Null hypothesis isrejected andalternative hypotheses
are accepted

4

Between the groups and within the groups
Null hypothesis is rejected and alternative
hypotheses are accepted
Null hypothesis is rejected and alternative
hypotheses are accepted
Null hypothesis is rejected and alternative
hypotheses are accepted
Null hypothesis is rejected and alternative
hypotheses are accepted
Null hypothesis is accepted and alternative
hypotheses are rejected
Null hypothesis is rejected and alternative
hypotheses are accepted
Null hypothesis is rejected and alternative
hypotheses are accepted
Null hypothesis is rejected and alternative
hypotheses are accepted79

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Discussion
Our study showed that both non-manipulative and manipulative factors play an important rolein developing teachers perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom. In nonmanipulative factors, gender, age group, work experience and experience to work with thecomputers are found out to be significant factors.
Our study reflected that female teachers have higher level of perceived proficiency in using
ICT in the classroom than their male counterparts. This is in contradiction to the existing
research. The existing literature states that female teachers are less proficient in using ICT in
the classroom. This might be due to two facts. Firstly, the proportion of female teachers is
significantly high at school level as it is considered to be an appropriate (safe, respectable, etc.)
job for educated females in the Indian context.
Secondly, all the state board schools (SSC) have a compulsory component of teacher training
programs in ICT where most of our surveyed female teachers are working. This finding may
have a positive implication for school management and policy makers. Implementation of ICT
may not face a gender barrier of as the proportion of female teachers is larger than that of maleteachers.
Age group and working/teaching experience has a negative relation with the perceived
proficiency in using ICT in the classroom. The existing research also shows that younger
teachers and teachers with less number of years of experience are more enthusiastic to use
technology in the classroom. This may be due to various reasons. Firstly, teachers from higher
age-groups and having longer experience may feel threatened due to new technologies such as
ICT and using computers in the classrooms. The feeling of getting easily replaced by thetechnology might have created a negative attitude in using it. Secondly adopting ICT alsomeans changing pedagogy and moving towards encouraging self-learning process rather thanteaching and instructing in the classroom.
Experience to work with the computers has a positive relationship with perceived proficiency
in using ICT in the classroom.
It might be perceived that ICT can be used more effectively for teaching technical subjects likemathematics or science rather than non-technical subjects like languages or social sciences.
Our study showed that the type of subject category taught by the teachers has no relationshipwith perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom. This indicates that teachers perceivethat both technical as well as non-technical both the subjects can be effectively taught with thehelp of ICT.
Manipulative factors cover type of school board, language of delivery and teachers training
program facilities. The study shows that teachers working in State education board (SSC) has
relatively lower perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom as compared to the teacher
working in other boards (CBSC, ICSE and IB). State education board schools are also publicgrant schools or popularly known as public schools. Most of the other board schools are private
schools. These schools also reflect the socio-economic status of the children admitted in theseschools. Most of the children from weaker socio-economic background attend public schools
which are free, whereas children from better socio-economic background attend private schools.

80

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Our study showed that perceived proficiency of teachers in private schools is higher than thatof public schools. This indicates that socio-economic context of the school and availability of
infrastructure has an impact on teachers’ perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
The study finds that the language of delivery has a very strong impact on perceived proficiency
in using ICT in the classroom. The teachers working in the regional medium schools were
found to have substantially low perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classroom ascompared to English medium schools. This result goes in tandem with the existing literature
which states that due to inadequate support of software and e-content in regional languages,
the integration of ICT in regional language schools is lesser than in English medium schools.
This is a major challenge for a developing country like India as majority of the children
attending regional medium schools and public schools are also coming from weaker section of
the society. ICT can encourage inclusive education in a true sense only if it can enableeducation in regional languages.
The study further confirms that teachers’ training programs have a positive impact on teachers’
perceived proficiency on using ICT.
Recommendations
The study provides the following suggestions:• The existing research unanimously agrees that teachers play a vital role in successful
implementation of ICT in the school. Therefore, the importance of building the
proficiency of teachers to use ICT cannot be overstated. The school management andpolicy makers can consider the non-manipulative and non-manipulative factors to
improve the teachers’ proficiency in using ICT in the classroom.
• Non-manipulative teachers’ factors are related to their demographic characteristics. It isfound that age group and working experience of the teachers have a negative relation
with the perceived proficiency. Hence, it is suggested that special teachers’ training
programs can be organized for more experienced and mature teachers. Teachers having
more number of years of experience and belonging to higher age-group often face a fearof getting replaced by new technologies like ICT. The training should also be oriented inremoving these fears and building a positive attitude for using ICT in the classrooms.
Training in building technical competencies should also be complemented with training
in changing the mind-set.
• Manipulative factors are under control of the school management. As it is found that theteachers from the SSC board school have lower perceived proficiency in using ICT, it isrecommended that the state government and school managements of these schools shouldtake active efforts to build teachers proficiency. Compulsory teachers training programs
is one such positive move which is recently taken by many state governments. Alongwith that it is also necessary to provide the supporting environment to the teachers interms of infrastructure, incentives and time availability. Attaran, Alias and Siraj (2012)
pointed out that effective implementation of ICT in schools requires creation of learning
culture which requires top management’s support, investment in technology such as
internet, portal development, computer equipment and other required machinery,common mission and values among all the stakeholders and strong course material inelectronic format.

81

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

• It is seen in our study that teachers from regional medium school have significantly lower
perceived proficiency in ICT as compared to the teachers from English medium school.
This can be on account of inadequate resources such as appropriate software and econtent in regional language. Attention must be given to build-up these resources in theregional language. It may have a long-term impact of increasing or mitigating the digital
gap in the country. Development of e-content in regional languages is essential if ICT isto be used for bridging the digital divide between public and private schools.
• This study as well as the existing research has shown that teachers’ training programs areimportant to build-up their capabilities and attitudes. These training programs need to beappropriately designed and conducted based on the proficiency level, age group, work
experience and the subjects taught by the teachers. As use of ICT will lead to more selfstudy oriented learning, the teaching pedagogy also needs to be changed. The teachers
need to mould themselves as facilitators rather than as instructors. The training programs
should also focus on changing their mind-sets and building a positive attitude towards
using ICT in the classrooms.
Conclusion
This study focused on finding out the impact of non-manipulative and manipulative teachers’
factors on their perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classrooms. It has a special reference
to a developing country like India where there is a huge variation in the standard and qualityof school education due to divergent socio-economic backgrounds of population. The study
finds that teachers’ perceptions are affected by non-manipulative as well as manipulative
factors. It further recommends that intervention in terms of creation of e-content in regional
languages and encouraging teachers training program in ICT will go a long way in improving
their perceived proficiency in using ICT in the classrooms.

82

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

References
Abuhmaid, A. (2011). ICT training courses for teacher professional development in Jordan.
The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 10(4), 195–210.
Afshari, M., Bakar, K., Luan, W. S., Samah, B. A., & Fooi, F. S. (2009). Factors affecting
teachers’ use of information and communication technology. International Journal of
Instruction, 2(1), 77–104.
Ali, G., Haolader, F., & Muhammad, K. (2013). The role of ICT to make teaching-learning
effective in higher institutions of learning in Uganda. International Journal of Innovative
Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 2(8), 4061–4072.
Attaram, M., Alias, N., & Siraj, S. (2012). Learning culture in a smart school: A case study.
Procedia-SocialandBehavioural
Sciences,64,417–423.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.11.049
Baek, Y.G., Jong, J., & Kim, B. (2008). What makes teachers use of technology in theclassroom? Exploring the factors affecting facilitation of technology with a Koreansample.
Computers
andEducation,
50(8),
224–234.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2006.05.002
Bingimlas, K. A. (2009). Barriers to the successful integration of ICT in teaching and learning
environments: A review of the literature. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science &Technology Education, 5(3).
Buaneng-Andoh, C. (2012). Factors influencing teachers’ adoption and integration of
information and communication technology into teaching: A review of the literature.
International Journal of Education and Development using Information andCommunication Technology, 8(1), 136–155.
Drent, M., & Meelissen, M. (2008). Which factors obstruct or stimulate teacher educators touse
ICTinnovatively? Computers&
Education, 51(1),187–199.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2007.05.001
Galanouli, D., Murphy, C., & Gardner, J. (2004). Teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of
ICT-competence
training. Computers&
Education, 43(1),63–79.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2003.12.005
Gilakjani, A. (2013). Factors contributing to teachers’ use of computer technology in theclassroom. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 1(3), 262–267.
Goktas, Y., Yildirim, S., & Yildirim, Z. (2009). Main barriers and possible enablers of ICTs
integration into pre-service teacher education programs. Educational Technology &Society, 12(1), 193–204.
Granger, C. A., Morbey, M. L., Lotherington, H., Owston, R. D., & Wideman, H. H. (2002).
Factors contributing to teachers’ successful implementation of IT. Journal of Computer
Assisted
Learning, 18(4),
480–488.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.02664909.2002.00259.doc.x
Hennessy, S., Harrison, D., & Wamakote, L. (2010). Teacher factors influencing classroom
use of ICT in Sub-Saharan Africa, Itupale Online Journal of African Studies, 2, 39–54.
http://www.a-id.org/pdf/teacher-factors-influencing-classroom-use-of-ict.pdf

83

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Hernandez-Ramos, P. (2005). If not here, where? Understanding teachers use of technology in
Silicon Valley Schools. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 3(1), 39–64.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2005.10782449
Jamieson-Proctor, R., Burnett, P., Finger, G., & Watson, G. (2006). ICT integration andteachers’ confidence in using ICT for teaching and learning in Queensland state schools.
Australian
Journalof
Educational
Technology,
22(4),
511–530.
https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.1283
Kay, R. (2006). Addressing gender differences in computer ability, attitudes and use: The
laptop effect. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 34(2), 187–211.
https://doi.org/10.2190/9BLQ-883Y-XQMA-FCAH
Khan, S, Hasan, M., & Clement, C. (2012). Barriers to the introduction of ICT into educationin developing countries: The example of Bangladesh. International Journal of Instruction,
5(2), 61–80.
Lau, B., & Sim, C. (2008). Exploring the extent of ICT adoption among secondary school
teachers in Malaysia. International Journal of Computing and ICT Research, 2(2), 19–36.
Naji, S. (2017). The impact of ICT on schools. IOSR Journal of Business & Management, 19,
83–85. https://doi.org/10.9790/487X-1901078385
Papanastasiou, E. C., & Angeli, C. (2008). Evaluating the use of ICT in education:
Psychometric properties of the survey of factors affecting teachers teaching withtechnology (SFA-T3 ). Educational Technology & Society, 11 (1), 69–86.
Tikam, M. V. (2013). Impact of ICT on education. International Journal of Information
Communication Technologies and Human Development (IJICTHD), 5(4), 1–9.
https://doi.org/10.4018/ijicthd.2013100101
Unwin, T. (2005). Towards a framework for the use of ICT in teacher training in Africa. Open
Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 20(2), 113–129.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02680510500094124
Volman, M., Van Eck, E., Heemskerk, I., & Kuiper, E. (2005). New technologies, newdifferences. Gender and ethnic differences in pupils’ use of ICT in primary and secondary
education. Computers & Education, 45, 35–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/S03601315(04)00072-7
Wachiuri, R. N. (2015). Effects of teachers’ experience and training on implementation of
information communication technology in public secondary schools in Nyeri, Central
District, Kenya, IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 20(3), 26–38.
Corresponding author: Prema Basargekar
Email: prema@somaiya.edu

84

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 201785

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 201786

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

The Dynamics of Decentralization of Higher Education Delivery and Local
Politics in the Philippines: The Case of Two Mandaue City Colleges in
Cebu Province

Ronald A. Pernia
University of the Philippines Cebu, Philippines87

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Abstract
This study explores how the decentralization law of 1991 in the Philippines has provided theconditions for the interface of higher education and politics by virtue of Local Government
Units (LGUs) establishment of Local Colleges and Universities (LCUs). Anchored on
educational politics framework, it specifically looks at the experience of Mandaue City which
presently has two similarly named local colleges, one is Commission on Higher Education
accredited and LGU supported, while the other has been deemed to have “no legal personality”
but has persisted to operate nonetheless. This would create a conflict of legitimacy and later on
manifest issues and challenges naturally beyond the immediate domain of education, but one
that must be harnessed constructively given the realities of Philippine politics i.e. power
struggle and political dynamics. The democratic opening engendered by the decentralization
law to allow LGUs to establish post-secondary schools are beset with growing political tensions
and contestations. Yet, there were also narratives and evidence of positive impact brought about
by the decentralization of higher education. Using key informant interviews, focus group
discussion and document reviews, this study contends that public educational ventures such as
LCUs serve as a microcosm of the larger problem in Philippine higher education: improved
access to higher education, but quality is deteriorating. As such, this study hopes to suggest
several policy directions and practical considerations for national governments vis-à-vis the
LGUs role as enabler and/or regulator of higher education.
Keywords: Philippines; local colleges and universities; local government units; commission
on higher education; decentralization; politics of education.

88

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Introduction
The transition of the Philippines to a decentralized form of government has been noted as aform of democratization of the country after the fall of the authoritarian regime of Marcos(Brillantes, 1996; Bird and Rodriquez, 1999). While there exist a plethora of studies examining
the impacts of decentralization in the country, most of them concluded that its promise andpotential have not been fully realized due to elite capture, lack of accountability mechanisms
and patronage politics (cf. Ishii, Hossain and Rees, 2007; Yilmaz and Venugopal, 2013; ShairRosenfield, 2016). Others however argued that compared to other Asian countries, thedecentralization program of the country “has attained better performance” (Guess, 2005, p. 217)
and local governments have become “more innovative, experimental and enterprising under
decentralization” (Capuno, 2011, p. 65). In addition, the “shifting of power to sub-national
governments had the potential to transform some of the most significant actors andrelationships including, among others, the developmental capacity of states and the strategic
calculations of politicians, non-governmental organizations and voters” (Eaton, 2001, p. 101).
Specifically, with the enactment of the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 or Republic
Act No. 7160, the decentralization law of the country, various social services originallycontrolled by the national government and its line agencies were devolved to the local level i.e.
barangays (villages – the lowest political structure), municipalities, cities and provinces. These
added duties, responsibilities and power devolved to the local level involves the following
social service sectors: agricultural extension, community based forestry, field health andhospital services, public works, school building, social welfare services, tourism,
telecommunications and housing (LGC, 1991). Whereas the LGU’s role with respect to theeducation service sector is only limited and confined to the construction of school buildings
and classrooms and maintenance aspects (Brillantes, 2003; Atienza, 2006; Go, 2016, p. 1),
however embedded in the LGC are salient provisions that provided enabling mechanisms forvarious explorations in local autonomy and public welfare. This democratic space allows LGUs
free rein in guiding the path of their local development (Cariño, 2002, 2004; Dayrit, 2005;
Legaspi, 2003, cited in Saloma, Jayme Lao and Advincula-Lopez, 2013). Essentially, the Codeprovides the opportunity for local governments in the country to venture into the tertiary levelof education by establishing public colleges named as Local Colleges and Universities financed
directly from its local treasury.1
Given this legal provision, several LGUs in the country initiated the creation of local public
higher education institutions (HEIs). In the past few years, the country has witnessed a dramaticincrease of LGU-run colleges nationwide. In 2015, the Commission on Higher Education(CHED) listed 101 LCUs nationwide, offering technical and vocational training and degreegranting programs (Commission on Higher Education [CHED], 2016). Given its preference toserve the poor and marginalized sectors of the Philippine society at the local level, the role that
LCUs play in addressing the country’s higher education problem are immense (Chao, 2012;
Dayrit, 2005).
This study looks at the two cases of Mandaue City Colleges in the city of Mandaue in theprovince of Cebu. It was selected due to its peculiar case of having a similarly named college
1

In the Philippines, local government funded tertiary schools are variously called “local college”, “community
college”, “municipal college”, “city college”, “public college”, “local university and colleges” and “local colleges
and universities”. Based on CHED Memorandum Order No. 32 Series of 2006, a “local college or university”
refers to a public higher education institution established by the LGUs through an enabling ordinance, andfinancially supported by the concerned local government unit.

89

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

within the same LGU; one is accredited by the CHED and financially supported by the city,and the other operates privately under the administration of the former College Administratorof Mandaue City College (MCC) in 2005, who claims to be the “real” and “legitimate”
Mandaue City College, but was not given government authority. This issue is very
controversial to the point that the CHED Region VII and Mandaue City Government filed a
legal action against the former MCC Administrator to stop the operation of this other school.
Most importantly, on July 4, 2011, even CHED Chairperson Dr. Patricia Licuanan by virtue ofCommission En Banc Resolution No. 163-2011 issued a public notice informing that the
Mandaue City College under the administration of the former college administrator “has nolegal personality to operate a local college and the degrees offered are spurious and illegal andshall not be recognized by the Commission” (Cuyos, 2011, para. 3). As such, it would be very
interesting to look into how this conflict came about and how does this figure in the whole
dynamics of decentralization of higher education and politics in the Philippines.
The study has three main objectives: (1) to identify the experience of Mandaue city in its
decision to venture into higher education availing on the opening in the Local Government
Code; (2) to identify how the ‘MCC conflict’ inform about the nature and condition of higher
education system in the Philippines in general, and the state of LCUs specifically; and (3) todetermine the extent of how the peculiarities of local politics affects the public venture of LGU
into higher education as shown in the experience of the conflict in Mandaue City College.
Framework and Research Method
The politics of education or educational politics is an eclectic field that seeks to incorporate
notions of authority, power and influence in the distribution of scarce and valued resources atdifferent levels of the education sector (Johnson, 2003; Wong, 1994). It also looks at theenduring value conflicts of efficiency, quality, equity and choice in educational settings, whose
intellectual roots and development can be traced to political science (Stout, Tallerico and
Scribner, 1994; Malen, 1994; Wong, 1994; Scribner and Layton, 2003; McLendon, 2003a;
2003b; Scribner, Aleman and Maxcy, 2003). Anchored on the core ideas of political science,
the field of educational politics argues that “school governance and decisions are embedded in
the core practices of our political systems” (Wong, 1994, p. 22), prescribed ways in which mosteducational policies are influenced by the larger political institutions and processes of decisionmaking. It also deepens both the conceptual and practical understanding of power structure anddemocratic exercise (Wong, 1994).
The use of “politics of education” as a framework of analysis for this study was essential andvaluable in understanding how local political dynamics shape and influence the whole
educational-governmental enterprise. Candelaria (2012) argued that the problem of public
education in the third world especially in the Philippines is a political problem and therefore
requires a political solution.
Methodologically, the primary source of data for this research is key informant interviews (KIIs)
and focus group discussions (FGDs). KIIs were used to extract the experiences of the
respondents to reveal the behavioral patterns of the actors, and to check and validate theaccounts of other interviews conducted (Pierce, 2008). Focus group discussion is used in
examining what, how and why people think about the issues of import to them withoutcompelling them into making decisions or reaching a consensus (Liamputtong, 2011). The
respondents were asked about their experiences in their capacities as college students,
graduates and teachers, college administrators, city government officials and national90

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

government agency official. Specific questions about whether there was a necessity to create atertiary school in the city funded by the local government, what sort of issues and problems thecollege have confronted, what were the impacts and contributions of the college to the city andits people and how they were affected by the conflict that arise due to the existence of two
similarly named colleges in their locality were probed from the respondents.
This research study also used document review like school records, newspaper articles andgovernment documents pertaining to LCUs. Document review helps to “develop novel
accounts and interpretations of significant events” (Burnham, Lutz, Grant & Layton-Henry,
2008, p. 208). The interviews, FGD and document gathering were conducted between January
2015 and April 2016. Informed consent from all respondents was secured prior to the said
methodologies for ethical consideration.
Literature Review
Higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines are either colleges or universities, andare generally classified as private or public. Public HEIs are further classified as State
University and College (SUC) or Local College and University (LCU). SUCs are fully fundedby the national government as determined by the Philippine Congress. LCUs, on the other hand,
are run by local government units. Over the past years, public higher education in the country
has been characterized by the rise in the number of SUCs as the LCUs set up by provinces andcities exercise their autonomy (Tan, 2012; CHED, 2012; 2013; 2015). The 1991 Local
Government Code provides LGUs i.e. a barangay (village), a municipality, city, or a province,in the country opportunity to venture into the tertiary level of education by establishing public
colleges named as Local Colleges and Universities financed directly from its local treasury.
Based on the LGC (1991), specifically Section 447(a) (5)(x) (Municipality), 458(a)(5)(x) (City),and 468(a)(4)(iii) (Province), an LGU can establish a local college provided that, “[s]ubject tothe availability of funds and to existing laws, rules and regulations, establish and provide forthe operation of vocational and technical schools and similar post-secondary institutions and,with the approval of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, fix and collectreasonable fees and other school charges on said institutions, subject to existing laws on tuition
fees.”The name Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) was changed in 1994 to
Department of Education (DepEd), when the Republic Act 7722, otherwise known as the“Higher Education Act”, was enacted creating the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
CHED is now tasked to supervise both public and private institutions of higher education andthe degree-granting programs in the country; hence LCUs are under CHED’s sphere of
regulation.
With this legal opening, it encourages LGUs nationwide to establish their own version of local
centers of higher learning. Over the years, the country has witnessed a substantial growth of
LGU-run colleges nationwide, from 46 LCUs in 2003 to 101 public colleges in 2015 (CHED,2016). Unfortunately, the expansion of educational opportunities brought about by these HEIs
is accompanied by a deteriorating quality of education in the country (Corpus, 2003; Durban& Catalan, 2012). Specifically, for LCUs, it was reported however that only a few of thecourses offered in these schools have permits from the government and are operating forcommercial benefit (Chua, 2011).

91

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

CHED Chairman Patricia Licuanan (2012) sums up the deteriorating quality of higher
education of the country specifically about the condition of local colleges and universities,
among others: poor performance in licensure examinations, inadequate faculty credentials,
only 100 or 5.6 percent have adequate facilities out of more than 1,800 HEIs, and programs
have increased beyond the original mandate. Montemar, Recio, Hecita and Dela Cruz (2013)
argued that the problems in LCUs cannot be divorced from the realities of the larger problems
that characterize the Philippine higher education system. Admittedly, while the entry of local
government units into higher education have addressed only the ‘equity’ and ‘access’ gap inhigher education, the decentralized set-up has affected the state of ‘quality’ of HEIs in the
country (Montemar et.al, 2013). It was even argued that the development of LCUs is affectedby the local political dynamics (Montemar et al., 2013).
Socio-Demographic Profile of Mandaue City
Mandaue City College is located in Mandaue City in Cebu Province. Mandaue City is a firstincome class highly urbanized city (i.e. with an average income of PHP 400 million or more)in the region of Central Visayas, Philippines. Mandaue City is situated on the coastal region of
Cebu Province. It borders Mactan Island on the east side where Lapu-Lapu City is located,
Cebu city in the south and west, and by the Municipality of Consolacion in the north. The city
has an area of 2,518 ha (6,220 acres). As of 2015, the city has a population of 362,654 (PSA,
2015). Mandaue City is composed of 27 barangays all are classified as urban. The largest
population is located in barangay Pakna-an (26, 943).

Figure 1: Location of Mandaue City in Cebu. (Wikipedia, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2017from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandaue).
Mandaue City is considered as Cebu’s new economic driver with more than 10,000 businessand industrial establishments and considering 40% of Cebu’s export companies are found in
Mandaue. The city is home to several institutions of academic learning. There are 53 private
schools in Mandaue City (DepEd, 2015) several of which provide educational services to thecity covering pre-school up to post-graduate level. In addition, there are 23 public secondary
schools and 27 public elementary schools (DepEd, 2015) delivering basic education to the city.
However, in spite of the presence of many higher educational institutions in the city, it isinherently private; hence, it imposes high tuition and other fees which is beyond the financial
capacity of its poor and underprivileged constituents (Manalang, 1992; Joshi, 2007).

92

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Profile of Mandaue City College
Mandaue City College (MCC) is the only CHED-accredited local government higher
educational institution in the City of Mandaue (DepEd, 2015). It was initially established by
the enactment of Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) Ordinance No. 10-2005-324A,
which was subsequently revised on October 11, 2010 pursuant to City Council Ordinance No.
12-2010-58, known as the “Revised Charter of the Mandaue City College”. The college charges
PHP 100 per unit and miscellaneous and other fees of about PHP 1,500. The programs offeredby the college includes nine bachelor’s program and their specializations and three specialized
diploma courses e.g. among others, Bachelor in Elementary Education (BEEd), Bachelor in
Secondary Education (BSEd), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) andBachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT).
Results and Discussion
Decentralization Experience of Mandaue City College: Invoking Pro-poor Policy for
Delivering Higher Education Service at the Local Level
In a city surrounded by big industrial establishments and major private higher educational
institutions, the creation of a public college that caters primarily to children of poor andunderprivileged families is a massive task for any LGU whose mandate under the LGC of 1991
is only in the basic education sector. As intimated by the City Councilor, who sits as the
Chairman of the Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure in an interview, he asserted
that the creation of MCC as very appropriate taking account of the economic condition of thecity that, “[M]andaue city is the most progressive city in the entire province of Cebu. Education
then is very vital in a highly-urbanized local government like Mandaue especially job
opportunities abounds. There are many industries like the call center and malls in which would
look for potential employees. This is where college education comes into play. These industries
will be looking for applicants with qualified degrees mostly with college degrees, before they
will be hired. So if you are a college graduate, whom the MCC aims to produce, chances are
great for you to be employed.”Moreover, the establishment of MCC is a response to the need for a more affordable alternativefrom private colleges noted by the Office of the Mayor’s Executive Secretary. When argued if
there was a need to create a local college, the former OIC of MCC and now the Dean of School
Education and Director of Research argued that there are students who cannot afford to go to
private colleges and even to public state colleges. This is true even if the city has grown so big
economically and geographically proximate to the provincial capital, Cebu City – the hub ofmajor universities in the region and the province. Most students noted in the FGD, conductedon February 4, 2016 at the campus of the MCC funded by the LGU, the problem of affordability
and accessibility in established universities in Metro Cebu and even in Mandaue City that
constrained them from studying.
Like any other educational endeavor, the venture however is engulfed with various challenges
typical of the Philippine higher education system. Most of the respondents cited the following
problems:
1. Lack of sufficient classrooms and school buildings conducive for learning e.g. not wellventilated, no electric fans, few chairs, smells bad, spaces are cramped;

93

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

2. Inadequate instructional materials like books, poor laboratory facilities like computersand other pedagogical tools for the improvement of teacher and student intellectual
growth;3. No permanent school site, as the college shares several facilities of the building withother departments of the city government. Students confided several uncomfortableencounters with patients e.g. some were dying and some were dead, inside the school
premises because the public city hospital is inside the shared facility in the Sports
Complex;4. Bureaucratic red tape in procurement procedures with respect to the delay of funds
essential for the everyday maintenance and operation of the school;
5. Insufficient budgetary allocation from the city as the college receives an annual
budgetary subsidy from the city of PHP 10,000,000 for all its operation. Thisappropriation is very “small” and “meager” as acknowledged by most officials both fromthe city government and the college.
Notwithstanding problems of school facilities and limited budget, there is an overriding general
understanding from most respondents of the importance and necessity of the establishment of
the MCC. The Vice Chairman of the Local School Board (LSB) and concurrently the Barangay
Chieftain of Subangdaku (one of the barangays in Mandaue) and President of Alliance ofBarangay Captains/Chieftain (ABC) of Mandaue City asserted in an interview that the creationof a local college like MCC is thought to be a creative mechanism that attains the same goal
and mission as giving free college scholarships for poor but deserving constituents of the city,“[t]o help our brothers and sisters avail of college education”.
He added that, “[s]pending on social services like the creation of a local college is a form of
human development as the city helps its poor constituents to be ready for the real worldcompetition as it alleviates their burden, especially that college education is very expensive inthe country.”

Figure 2: The Mandaue City College campus in the City Sports Complex (photo taken by theauthor).
The college has no separate and permanent school site, but it is sharing with other local
government offices like City Health Center and the Fire Department; thus, the presence ofvehicles owned by government employees inside the campus.
Aware of the limited budget appropriated to the college (i.e. 10 million annually in a city thatearns an annual average income of 400 million or above) and the request for greater budgetary94

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

allocation every fiscal year, the Executive Secretary reminded that the city administration had
to temper it because the local college is not the only service the city provides. It was asserted
however that that the college is not an income-generating project of the city government. If
anything, the City Vice Mayor, College Administrator and the Assistant College Administrator
for Administration have shared the same sentiment that MCC is a form of basic service as itprovides cheap and affordable tuition fee for its people.
Generally, most of them argued that the whole enterprise is geared towards the long-term goalof educating the local populace providing necessary skills for their future endeavors, to have abetter chance of getting a good job. An alumna shared in an interview, he graduated with honors
with the degree of Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Filipino in 2014, and he wasvery grateful for the learning and values he received from his teachers. He learned the“observance of proper communication”, “how to work and behave with peers and fellow
professionals”, and “be dedicated to your work and industry” which aids him in working as aCall Center agent. Most importantly, most of students noted in the FGD that:Students like me personally have to say thank you for the city government and thecollege officials for all the things they have done for the school. If not for them, we
wouldn’t be here. (Student A)
If the students of the University of the Philippines are called as Iskolars ng Bayan(scholars of the nation), we are scholars of the city of Mandaue. (Student B)
Even though these are all the facilities we have, despite the dilapidated
infrastructure, we are still very dedicated. We are very thankful because we still
have a school. (Student C)
Because the city government subsidizes for our study, there is no reason for us tobe lazy because the college has not forsaken us through the establishment of thecollege. (Student D)
Politics in the MCC: How the Local College Became a Site of Power Struggle
As can be noticed from the beginning, the college was initially established in 2005 through an
enabling ordinance however it was changed in 2010 pursuant to another local legislation. The
city college was saddled with controversies which rendered the city of Mandaue with twosimilarly named Mandaue City Colleges. Originally, MCC was established in 2005 during theincumbency of the former mayor who was suspended by the Ombudsman due to improper use
of funds in 2007 as confided by the Vice Chair of the Local School Board (LSB). Being unable
to run for office since he served office for three successive electoral cycles already, his son ran
in his stead in that year’s local election but was defeated by the current City Mayor. He is on
his last term and has previously served office from 2007 to 2010, 2010 to 2013, and 2013 to2016, winning in three successive mayoral elections. On May 2016, he ran successfully for
Congress winning as Sixth District Representative of the Province of Cebu (Gitgano, 2016).
The conflict began, as intimated by the former OIC MCC College Administrator, Executive
Secretary and the Vice Chair of the LSB, during the interim period when the former mayor wasserving suspension allowing the Vice Mayor in 2007 to assume the Mayoralty, revealing
several anomalies concerning government funds that were not liquidated from the college
administrator. Most officials both from the college and city asserted that they made repeated95

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

demands for the then administrator to render accounting of the college expenses; unfortunately,
he did not satisfactorily comply. Thus, the OIC Mayor appointed a new college administrator.
She was the interim MCC college administrator during the 2007–2011 period before the college
in 2012 selected a new college administrator who serves presently.
The incumbent administrator at the time (in 2007) stood in firm stand that he is the “rightful”
administrator as per city ordinance. It was noted in their school’s website that:
Under City Ordinance No. 10-2005-324A – an Ordinance Establishing the Mandaue
City College and authorizing the appropriation of funds therefor, specifically Section
6: (a) The President – the administration of the City College shall be vested in the
President. He shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees for a term of six (6) years;
Provided, That the President of the City College may be reappointed after his term
shall be expired. (Agustillo, n.d.).
Thus, technically he is the “rightful” president. Embattled, confused and gradually developing
into a media story for local and national broadsheet (“Police arrest Mandaue”, 2008; Basilan,
2011; “Options for Mandaue”, 2011; Cuyos, 2011; Perolina, 2011), the Regional Office of theCommission on Higher Education have intervened. The Education Specialist Supervisor of
CHED Region VII recalled in an interview that CHED only mediated to have a smooth
operation of the college:[W]hen we went there, we have empty knowledge about their operation or the nittygritty details of the issue or the gravity of the whole situation. We went tounderstand what’s happening and base on our study from both parties, we submitted
a report to the City Council. We found out that, based on the local ordinance, thecollege administrator who was removed has the right to stay until six years.
However, there were members of the city council who opposed to the leadership of
the administrator and was asked to step down, graciously. It was this time then when
the two parties filed cases and counter lawsuit against one another.
Defiant, the ousted administrator established a separate campus bearing exactly the name of
the Mandaue City College located in a different barangay within the city. In effect, there are
two similarly named city colleges in the province and in Mandaue City. Given this, CHED
Region VII and Mandaue City Government filed a legal action against the former MCC
Administrator to stop the operation of this other school. Likewise, CHED, thru the Office of
the Chairman Patricia Licuanan issued a Notice to the Public (Cuyos, 2011) declaring that the
MCC created by the former administrator has no legal personality.
Undeterred, this administrator intimated in an interview that the intervention of CHED thru theissuance of the closure order is very misleading, as its real mandate is only to control private
colleges. He said CHED’s role vis-à-vis LCUs is to monitor them only, not to “control” citingthat CHED does not have regulatory powers. He claimed that this is attributed to CHED’s
incompetence and dalliance with politics, noting that “as a national agency, CHED should not
involve themselves in politics. They should be neutral.”2 He argued also that “CHED does nothave the power to close colleges, but they only have the power to recommend for closure. It isthe court that has the right to issue closure orders, as CHED does not have the police power.”32This was noted by the former MCC Administrator who was removed from office and created a new city
college named similarly. He is the president of this established school.
3This was noted in an interview by the former MCC administrator.

96

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

This is the reason why the LGU has not enforced the closure order since the court has yet torender its final decision.
In addition, he pointed out that it is the intervention of politics which serves as the reason how
and why there exist two similarly named local colleges in Mandaue City.
It becomes the reason why there are two Mandaue City Colleges because if politics
will involve in local colleges; the problem is, if the president is not with the mayor(politically or ideologically), the present mayor will create his own college because,the first thing he will do is to take out the present president and change it to his own
men. That is the problem of most local colleges nationwide. There is really too
much politics.4
Meanwhile, while all this unfolds, some students were taken aback. Several students call tomind their experience in the FGD how in every school competition they joined in people would
confuse them from the other campus. They even mentioned moments when they encounter
several students from other school asserting that theirs is the “real” and “legitimate” collegeand “CHED is not an accrediting body”. Most of them shared that ultimately the existence of
two MCCs “divides and confuses the general public”. Doubtless, all of the students understand
too well the root cause of the matter.5
By now, we all know who those people who rule the school are and the city before.
We also have to understand and accept the reality that this is really all about politics.
Just this last semester, this issue again surfaces back due to several flyers andpamphlets with words “WE ARE THE REAL MCC” written over it. I asked thoseclassmates where they got those flyers; they said it was distributed in the city plazaby some students. I asked why and they replied that their college president isrunning for Congress. Those flyers really contain the name of MCC. It made me
wonder why the city government allowed this from happening. The city
government through the office of the Mayor is very powerful. In the many years
when this issue begun, until now it remained unresolved and unanswered. Our
future is at risk because the elections are fast approaching. (Student H)
The student was referring to the May 2016 Elections which interestingly the college presidentof the “other MCC” competes for a congressional post challenging the outgoing Mayor. When
probed on the rationale over his decision to enter the political fray, though he eventually lost,
he interprets as such to “show that the real problem of the MCC conflict is politics, and thesolution is inherently political”.
As of now, the case of two Mandaue City Colleges is still pending finality in the local courts.
Observing the due process of law, the city government of Mandaue cannot forcibly close theoperation of the other MCC. After all, as intimated by the Executive Secretary to the Office ofthe Mayor, they will just simply open to another area and resume its operation.

4
5This is noted by the former MCC administrator in an interview.
Such remarks were noted by most interviewed students in an FGD session conducted.

97

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017Conclusion and Recommendation
This study began with three main objectives: (1) to identify the experience of Mandaue city inits decision to venture into higher education availing on the opening in the LGC; (2) to identify
how the “MCC conflict” informs about the nature and condition of higher education system in
the Philippines in general, and the state of LCUs specifically; and (3) to determine the extent
of how the peculiarities of local politics affects the public venture of LGU into higher education
as shown in the experience of the conflict in Mandaue City College. Using the “politics of
education” framework, it was shown how the experience of Mandaue City in its decision to
venture into putting up a public college has been viewed as a form of pro-poor educational
investment intended to address higher educational gaps at the local level (Bird and Rodriquez,1999). This is confirmed by the narratives of some students and graduates who articulated on
the positive impact of the government venture into higher education, despite the challenges of
inadequate facilities, limited funding and issues of quality assurance.
Anchored on the salient provisions of the decentralization law of the country, the venture intohigher education of Mandaue city government however was beset with challenges that are
naturally outside the domain of education arena, i.e. power and politics. This occurred due tothe public nature of the educational endeavor as the college is financially dependent to the city
government. In addition, the venture was riven with local oppositional politics, questions oflegitimacy and authority, intervention of a higher education regulatory body and nuances ofpower struggle which affects the operations and functions of such schools. In practical setting,the controversy showed the political dimension of the educational venture. It was apparent fromthe onset that the Mandaue City College was created by a political leadership amidst an
environment vulnerable to the local political dynamics and various policy actors. In the casestudy presented, it was apparent that the LGU-run public college has transformed into an arenaof local political struggle, turning the educational venture into what Johnson (2003, p. 58)
considered as a “political enterprise”.
Moreover, this study reveals contestations for power and cleavages of power relations that exist
in education in the Philippines (Candelaria, 2012; Contreras, 2013). The MCC experience
showed that the school has come to be understood as a political arena rife with macro andmicro-political processes (Wong, 1994; Strout et. al., 1994; Scribner et. al., 2003; McLendon,
2003a; 2003b; Björk and Blasé, 2009; Fiske, 1996). Ultimately, the decentralization law of1991 provided the conditions for the interface of higher education and politics in the country
by virtue of LGU’s establishment of local universities and colleges (Chao, 2012).
As such, this study raises important practical consideration about the proactive role of thenational government as an enabler and regulator of higher education. For future research, itwould be interesting to look if the national government whose legal mandate is enshrined under
the Philippine Constitution (1987) which aims to “protect and promote shall protect andpromote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate
steps to make such education accessible to all (Section 1, Article XIV)” allows LGUs to venture
into higher education under the decentralization law of 1991. Should the State respond more to
the problems of “quality” education, instead of simply encouraging LGUs to put up local public
higher educational institutions? The State must institute clearer directives and policy guidelinesthat depart from excessive commitment to “expansion” of higher education, to focus more on
improving the structural and curricular gaps that undermines that condition of Philippine higher
education.

98

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Also, the discourse of “politics” as a process of attaining ends that must be harnessed
constructively so as to effect positive changes not simply as a mechanism for personal
aggrandizement and serving one’s political aspirations, should be pursued extensively(Candelaria, 2012). It must be noted that despite the influence of politics in the creation andoperation of the MCC, there was still evidence of valuable impacts of the college to thecommunity.
Acknowledgments
The author acknowledges the Office of the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Cebu
through the Central Visayas Studies Center, for partially funding this study through the
Research Grant in 2014. The author also acknowledges Dr Anne Candelaria of Ateneo De
Manila University, Professor Jan Robert Go of University of the Philippines Diliman and Prof.
Louie Montemar of De La Salle University for sharing valuable resources regarding thediscourse of politics of education, decentralization of education and the state of local colleges
and universities in the Philippines, respectively. The three anonymous reviewers are likewiseacknowledged for their useful insights and comments. All shortcomings however are theauthor’s sole responsibility.

99

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

References
Agustillo, E. (n.d.). History and mandate: A historical perspective. Retrieved on August 19,
2017 from http://www.mandauecitycollege.edu.ph/?page_id=85
Atienza, M. L. (2006). Local government and devolution in the Philippines. In N. M. Morada& T. S. Encarnacion Tadem (Eds.) Philippine politics and governance: An introduction(pp. 415–440). Quezon City: Department of Political Science and Commission on Higher
Education.
Manalang, P. S. (1992). Philippine education: promise and performance. University of thePhilippines Press and Center for Integrative and Development Studies.
Basilan, R. (2011, July 22). Cañete’s Mandaue City College operating illegally: Ched notice.
Sunstar. Retrieved on August 19, 2017 from http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/localnews/2011/07/22/canete-s-mandaue-city-college-operating-illegally-ched-notice168276
Bird, R., & Rodriguez, E. R. (1999). Decentralization and poverty alleviation. International
experience and the case of the Philippines. Public Administration &Development, 19(3), 299. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099162X(199908)19:3<299::AID-PAD82>3.0.CO;2-L
Björk, L. G., & Blase, J. (2009). The micropolitics of school district
decentralization. Educational assessment, evaluation and accountability, 21(3), 195–
208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11092-009-9078-y
Brillantes, A. B. (1996). Decentralization, devolution and democratization: Old concepts,
contemporary applications. Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal of Third World
Studies, 12(1).
Retrievedon
August
19,
2017
from
http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/kasarinlan/article/view/849/841
Brillantes, A. B. (2003). Decentralized democratic government under the local government
code: A government perspective. In A Bautista, P. Concepcion, Alfiler, P. D. Reyes &Tapales, P. D. (Eds.) Introduction to public administration: A reader (pp. 324–343).
Quezon City: NCPAG.
Burnham, P., Lutz, K. G., Grant, W., & Layton-Henry, Z. (2008). Research methods in politics.
Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-36556-8
Candelaria, A. L. K. (2012). Politics matters: understanding the role of political influence inthird world effective school improvement. (Doctoral dissertation). National Institute of
Education-Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Capuno, J. J. (2011). Incumbents and innovations under decentralization: An empirical
exploration of selected local governments in the Philippines. Asian Journal of Political
Science, 19(1), 48-73. https://doi.org/10.1080/02185377.2011.568243
Cariño, L. (2002). Decentralized democratic governance under the local government code: A
governmental perspective. In P.D. Tapales & A. B. Brillantes Jr. (Eds.) Local government
in the Philippines: A book of readings Vol. III (pp. 27–48). Quezon City: Center for Local
and Regional Governance, National College of Public Administration and Governance,
University of the Philippines Diliman.

100

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Cariño, L. V. (2004). Decentralization in Southeast Asia. Public Administration and Public
Policy, 74.
Chao, R. (2012). Democracy, decentralization and higher education: The Philippine case. Asia
Pacific Social Science Review, 12(1), 31–44.
Chua, R. (2011, March 1). PH needs law regulating local colleges, universities. ABS-CBN News.
Retrieved on August 19, 2017 from http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/03/01/11/ph-needslaw-regulating-local-colleges-universities
Commission on Higher Education (CHED). (2006). Policies, standards and guidelines on theestablishment and operation of local colleges and universities. Retrieved on August 19,
2017
from
http://www.ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/CMO-No.32s2006.pdf
Commission on Higher Education (CHED). (2012). Strategic plan 2011–2016. Retrieved on
August 19, 2017 from http://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/CHED-StrategicPlan-2011-2016.pdf
Commission on Higher Education (CHED). (2015). Higher education institutions. Retrievedon August 19, 2017 from http://www.ched.gov.ph/index.php/higher-education-innumbers/higher-education-institutions
Commission on Higher Education (CHED). (2016). List of higher education institutions
RegionVII.
Retrievedon
August
19,
2017
from
http://www.ched.gov.ph/chedwww/index.php/eng/Information/List-of-HigherEducation-Institutions-HEIs/REGION-VII
Contreras, A. P. (2013). Everyday university politics in the Philippines: a tale of two
universities. Philippine
Political
ScienceJournal, 34(2),170–187.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01154451.2013.851490
Corpus, M. T. (2003). Historical Perspective of the Philippine Quality Assurance
System. Journal of Philippine Higher Education Quality Assurance, 1(1), 1–7.
Cuyos, J. M. (2011, July 22). Students told: Change schools. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved on
August 19, 2017 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/27537/students-told-change-schools
Dayrit, N. M. (2005). The local government units’ venture into the Philippine education system:
The establishment of local colleges and universities. Workshop on enlarging citizen
participation and increasing local autonomy in achieving social harmony workshop.
Network of Asia Pacific Schools and Institutes of Public Administration and Governance(NAPSIPAG) Annual Conference. Retrieved on August 19, 2017 fromhttp://www.napsipag.org/pdf/Dayrit.pdf
Department of Education (2015). List of private school of 2015. Retrieved on August 19, 2017fromhttp://www.depedro7gov.ph/wpcontent/uploads/Others/list%20of%20private%20school%20as%20of%202015.pdf
Durban, J. M., & Catalan, R. D. (2012). Issues and concerns of Philippine education throughthe years. Asian Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 1(2).
Eaton, K. (2001). Political obstacles to decentralization: Evidence from Argentina and thePhilippines. Development and change, 32(1), 101–127. https://doi.org/10.1111/14677660.00198

101

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Fiske, E. B. (1996). Decentralization of education: Politics and consensus (Vol. 36). WorldBank Publications. https://doi.org/10.1596/0-8213-3723-8
Gitgano, F. (2016, May 12). Jonas Cortes wins. Sunstar. Retrieved on August 19, 2017 fromhttp://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2016/05/12/jonas-cortes-wins-473129
Guess, G. M. (2005). Comparative decentralization lessons from Pakistan, Indonesia, and thePhilippines. Public
Administration
Review, 65(2),217–230.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2005.00446.x
Ishii, R., Hossain, F., & Rees, C. J. (2007). Participation in decentralized local governance: twocontrasting cases from the Philippines. Public Organization Review, 7(4), 359–373.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-007-0043-2
Johnson Jr., B. L. (2003). Those nagging headaches: Perennial issues and tensions in thepolitics of education field. Educational Administration Quarterly, 39(1), 41–67.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X02239760
Joshi, K. M. (2007). An exploration of private sector financing of higher education in thePhilippines and its policy implications for India. Journal of Faculty of Educational
Sciences 40(2), 321–346.
Liamputtong, P. (2011). Focus group methodology: Principle and practice. Sage
Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473957657
Licuanan, P. (2012). Challenges in higher education. Retrieved on August 19, 2017 fromhttp://www.aaccupqa.org.ph/Challenges.pdf
Malen, B. (1994). The micropolitics of education: mapping the multiple dimensions of power
relations in school polities. Journal of Education Policy, 9(5), 147–167.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0268093940090513
McLendon, M. K. (2003a). Setting the governmental agenda for state decentralization of higher
education. The Journal of Higher Education, 74(5), 479–515, 477.
McLendon, M. K. (2003b). The politics of higher education: Toward an expanded research
agenda. Educational Policy, 17(1), 165–191.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0895904802239291
Montemar, L., Recio, R., Hecita, L., & Dela Cruz, M. (2013). Access, quality, and governancein higher education: Local colleges and universities (LCUs) in the Philippines. A research
report prepared by the De La Salle University-Jesse Robredo Institute of Governance(JRIG), and the Philippine Business for Education (PBED), with support from theAustralian Aid (AUSAID).
Options for Mandaue college students (2011, August 11). Cebu Daily News. Retrieved on
August 19, 2017 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/39873/options-for-mandaue-collegestudents
Pierce, R. (2008). Research methods in politics: A practical guide. London: Sage.
https://doi.org/10.4135/9780857024589
Perolina, F. (2011, August 10). CHED to sue Mandaue City College. The Freeman. Retrievedon August 19, 2017 from http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/714892/ched-suemandaue-city-college

102

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Philippine Statistics Authority (2015). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality andBarangay: as of August 1, 2015. Retrieved on August 19, 2017 fromhttps://psa.gov.ph/content/population-region-vii-central-visayas-based-2015-censuspopulation“Police arrest Mandaue City College head” (2008, May 10). GMA News. Retrieved on August19, 2017 from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/94439/news/regions/policearrest-mandaue-city-college-head
Saloma, C., Jayme Lao, M. E., & Advincula-Lopez, L. (2013). How to make local government
institutions work: Some lessons on social change. Philippine Political Science
Journal, 34(1), 83–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/01154451.2013.789170
Scribner, J. D., Aleman, E., & Maxcy, B. (2003). Emergence of the politics of education field:
Making sense of the messy center. Educational Administration Quarterly, 39(1), 10–40.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X02239759
Scribner, J. D., & Layton, D. H. (Eds.). (2003). The study of educational politics: The 1994
commemorative yearbook of the Politics of Education Association 1969–1994.
Routledge.
Shair-Rosenfield, S. (2016). The causes and effects of the local government code in thePhilippines: Locked in a status quo of weakly decentralized authority? Journal ofSoutheast Asian Economies (JSEAE), 33(2), 157–171.
Stout, R. T., Tallerico, M., & Scribner, K. P. (1994). 1. Values: the “What?” of the politics of
education. Journalof
Education
Policy, 9(5),5–20.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0268093940090505
Tan, E. A. (2012). What’s wrong with the Philippine higher education? Philippine Review of
economics, 48(1), 147-184.
Tan, M. (2012, June 7). College. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved on August 19, 2017 fromhttp://opinion.inquirer.net/30223/college
The Local Government Code. (1991). Republic Act No. 7160. Retrieved on August 19, 2017from http://www.gov.ph/1991/10/10/republic-act-no-7160
The Philippine Constitution. (1987). The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.
Retrievedon
August
19,
2017
from
http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution
Wong, K. K. (1994). 2. The politics of education: from political science to multi-disciplinary
inquiry. Journalof
Education
Policy, 9(5),21–35.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0268093940090506
Yilmaz, S., & Venugopal, V. (2013). Local government discretion and accountability inPhilippines. JournalofInternational
Development, 25(2),227–250.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.1687
Corresponding author: Ronald Pernia
Email: rapernia1@up.edu.ph103

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

104

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Sense of Belonging at School: Defining Attributes, Determinants, andSustaining Strategies

Jerome St-Amand
Université du Québec en Outaouais, Canada
Stéphanie Girard
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada
Jonathan Smith
Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Canada

105

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Abstract
Building and sustaining students’ sense of belonging at school has been proposed by teachers
and researchers as a means of stimulating students’ intent or desire to learn and of reducing
student attrition. This article will present the results of an inquiry into the literature on
belonging to support the perspective that is it necessary, not only to foster a strong sense of
belonging, but also to place much greater emphasis on school belonging in educational
programs, practices, and research. The aims of the paper are: (a) to review the theoretical
literature on school belonging with an emphasis on its defining attributes and main
determinants, (b) to review the measurement instruments of school belonging, and (c) to
identify various strategies that may enhance school belonging. In light of the defining attributes
identified, the authors propose six general recommendations for educational stakeholders
wishing to build and sustain students’ sense of belonging at school.
Keywords: students’ sense of school belonging; defining attributes; determinants; sustaining
strategies.

106

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Introduction
Researchers in psychology consider individuals to be complex beings. Individuals have, after
all, a unique spirit, their own goals and ambitions. At the same time, they feel an innate need
to belong to a group; to get closer to the people who are part of their environment; to havemeaningful, intimate, and satisfying social relationships (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Lavigne,
Vallerand, & Crevier-Braud, 2011); to love and to be loved; to take care of others and to betaken care of (Deci & Ryan, 2000). The need to belong is in fact universal, as is the need toestablish stable and loving relationships (Baumeister & Leary, 1995).
In school settings, researchers have noted that school belonging significantly and positively
affects several motivational measures such as expectancy of success, valuation of school work,and self-reported effort (Goodenow, 1993a). Enhancing school belonging can also have apositive effect on academic achievement and school engagement (Allen, Kern, Vella-Brodick,& Waters, 2016; Eccles & Roser, 2009; Juvonen, 2006; Neel & Fuligni, 2013; Roeser, Midgley,& Urdan, 1996; Wehlage, Rutter, Smith, Lesko, & Fernandez, 1989). Indeed, in her literature
review aiming at addressing the question, is this experience of belongingness important in an
educational setting? Osterman (2000) pointed out other positive outcomes associated withbelonging, such as participation in classroom activities and prosocial behaviors. Other
researchers have noted a positive and significant relationship between school belonging andinvestment in extracurricular activities, reduction in school absenteeism rates (Flynn, 1997),
positive social relations (Hagborg, 1994), and positive mental health (Hagerty, Williams,
Coyne, & Early, 1996). Osterman (2000) has also highlighted the importance of school
belonging, writing: “[F]rom a review of even these limited sources it is possible to conclude
that belongingness is an extremely important concept. As a psychological phenomenon, it has
far reaching impact on human motivation and behavior” (p. 359). On the other hand, a lack ofschool belonging is a dropout risk factor that should be seriously considered (Berktold, Geis,& Kaufman, 1998). In line with this, Christenson and Thurlow (2004) indicated that a lack ofbelonging could be a key indicator of a process of disengagement from school.
Despite the weighty importance that sense of school belonging has been understood to bear,researchers observe that the work done thus far has shown a distinct lack of scientific clarity
and thus does not allow us to understand the concept fully so as to adopt more targetededucational practices to build and sustain it (Allen & Bowles, 2012; Allen et al., 2016). Allen
and Bowles (2012) note:Research on belonging in educational settings has been unsystematic and dilutedby disparities in definition and terminology […] One explanation for this lack ofinterest may be the disparity in measurements, terminology, and definitions thatmake empirically-driven findings and interventions difficult to translate into school
practices (p. 108).
In their work, Allen and Bowles (2012) demonstrate the importance of a sense of belonging
and suggest new perspectives for further research. In our view, our paper complements theirargument by suggesting more avenues of research and by formulating a few recommendations
for educational stakeholders. The aims of this paper are: (a) to review the theoretical literatureon school belonging with an emphasis on its defining attributes and determinants, (b) to review
the measurement instruments of school belonging, and (c) to identify various strategies that
may enhance school belonging.

107

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Literature Review
We commenced this project by generating synonyms for school belonging in order to make an
exhaustive literature search and to obtain relevant documents. A thesaurus was used to identify
English and French synonyms which included membership, belonging, school membership,
school connectedness, youth connectedness, sense of school belonging, identification to school,
sentiment d’appartenance, appartenance, and climat d’appartenance. These keywords were
employed in general (e.g., Google, Google Scholar) and specialized (e.g., PsycInfo, Eric,
Francis) search engines. As for the year of publication of the identified documents, the authors
remained flexible in order to include older publications that are fundamental to theunderstanding of this concept. A first reading of these documents was undertaken to target thedefinitions of belonging, the measurement instruments, and the theoretical models that takebelonging into account. Subsequently, another literature review was conducted among the
documents identified to target more relevant publications.
Toward an Understanding of School Belonging
As pointed out by many researchers, school belonging has been described in many different
ways (Allen & Bowles, 2012; Allen et al., 2016). In recent years, numerous definitions ofschool belonging have been proposed, in both the field of education and other areas of research.
Our literature review has yielded several definitions of belonging in research areas such as
health (Anant, 1967; Hagerty, Lynch-Sauer, Patusky, Bouwsema, & Collier, 1992; Hagerty &Patusky, 1995), psychology (Kestenberg & Kestenberg, 1988; Maslow, 1962, 1970; Mucchielli,
1972, 1980; Smith & Berg, 1987), management (Richer & Vallerand, 1998), and educational
sciences (Deci, Vallerand, Pelletier, & Ryan, 1991; Goodenow, 1993a; Janosz, Georges, &Parent, 1998; Langevin, 1999; Wehlage et al., 1989; Williams & Downing, 1998). A careful
examination of these definitions has helped us identify a few interesting perspectives on school
belonging as well as three definitional attributes we believe are critical when defining thisconcept.
First, belonging is a major factor that contributes positively to an individual’s psychologicaldevelopment. Mucchielli (1980, p. 99) suggested that membership is not just about being in orout of a group; it involves the development of a personal identification and a social identity.
The impact of belonging on a person’s psychological development is also reflected in thedefinition provided by Kestenberg and Kestenberg (1988, p. 536): “Belonging encompasses
many spheres of interest. It is a component of identity and object relationships. It manifests
itself of familiar space and objects to whom the space belongs.” For his part, Maslow (1962,1970) noted that membership is an essential need which must be satisfied in order to selfactualize as individuals. Maslow (1970) described self-actualization in these terms:
It may be loosely described as the full use and exploitation of talents, capacities,
potentialities, and other factors. Such people seem to be fulfilling themselves andto be doing the best they are capable of doing, reminding us of Nietzsche’s
exhortation “become what thou art.” They are people who have developed or aredeveloping to the full stature of which they are capable (p. 150).
Second, a sense of belonging is a basic need that leads people to build social bonds and toaffiliate with members of a group (Hagerty et al., 1996). As suggested by Anant (1967), thequest for group affiliation is based on the assumption that the individual will, as a result, build
strong social bonds with others to the point of considering the group as an important element

108

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017of his/her life: “Belongingness was defined as personal involvement (in a social system) to theextent that the person feels himself to be an indispensable and integral part of the system”(Anant, 1967, p. 391). Langevin (1999, p. 116) stressed the importance of a reciprocal
relationship between students and adults of the institution; these social relationships exist in
both the formal and informal aspects of school life. According to Deci and his colleagues(1991), these positive social relationships must be safe and satisfactory. Furthermore, Williams
and Downing (1998, p. 103) suggested that friendships are important components of belonging:
Students thought that being a part of the class meant that they had a place in theclassroom, felt welcomed, wanted, and respected by their classmates and teachers.
Being familiar with their classmates and having friends who understood them madethe student feel as if he or she belonged to a group and/or to a class as a whole.
Finally, four definining attributes emerged from the definitions identified, namely positive
emotions, positive social relations, involvement, and harmonization. According to Walker and
Avant (2011), defining attributes are key characteristics that help to differentiate one conceptfrom another related concept and clarify its meaning.
• Defining attribute 1: First, positive emotions are an important defining attribute ofbelonging. Indeed, authors have suggested that these include a feeling of attachment(Mucchielli, 1980), a feeling of intimacy (Kestenberg & Kestenberg, 1988), a feeling of
usefulness and support (Mucchielli, 1980), and a sense of pride (Janosz et al., 1998).
• Defining attribute 2: Second, the student must maintain positive relations with his or
her peers and teachers. These social relations must be accompanied by encouragement,
acceptance, support, respect (Goodenow, 1993b), valorization (Goodenow, 1993b,
Hagerty et al., 1992), and warmth (Williams & Downing, 1998).
• Defining attribute 3: Third, the individual must demonstrate energy and a willingness
to get involved in a meaningful way within a group (Hagerty et al., 1992). This
involvement can be in class or outside, such as active participation in extracurricular
activities (Wehlage et al., 1989; Williams & Downing, 1998).
• Defining attribute 4: Fourth, harmonization is another defining attribute often
mentioned in the definitions (Wehlage et al., 1989), including that of Maslow (1962). In
his definition, Maslow mentioned that individuals must adapt and adjust by changing
personal aspects to align with any situations or people that would warrant such anadaptation.
In sum, a close examination of the definitions found in the literature allows us to pinpoint thesefour defining attributes of belonging. In our view, this helps us to carry out a more thoroughconceptual analysis specifically to delineate the main components of school belonging and theirrelated concepts. Knowing the defining attributes could lead teachers to adopt more precise
pedagogical strategies and, ultimately, help researchers to measure the concept more accurately.
Methodologies and Methods
Measurement Instruments
Our literature review made it possible to identify instruments, mainly of the quantitative type,that measure sense of belonging in specific groups of individuals. Such instruments have been
applied to measuring belonging in given groups of individuals – e.g., a group of offenders(Negola, 1998) – as well as in educational settings, such as a school-based intervention program109

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

(Anderson-Butcher & Conroy, 2002) and a sports team (Allen, 2006). From this search, wehave chosen to focus on three quantitative research tools aimed specifically at measuring
students’ general sense of school belonging.
First, Carol Goodenow (1993b) developed the Psychological Sense of School Membership(PSSM) questionnaire at Tufts University in Boston. The PSSM has been the most frequently
used instrument in recent years to measure the concept. In 2011, 40 studies had already used
this tool (You, Ritchey, Furlong, Shochet, & Boman, 2011). The theoretical work of manyscholars contributed to the development of the instrument (Finn, 1989; Wehlage et al., 1989).
The PSSM is made up of 18 self-reported items describing various features of students’relationship with their schools, such as acceptance and inclusion (e.g., most teachers at [nameof school] are interested in me), respect and encouragement (e.g., people here notice when I’m
good at something), as well as peers’ reactions toward a student’s opinion (e.g., other students
in this school take my opinions seriously). Some items were also developed to measure students’sense of belonging from a broader perspective that characterizes the relationship between thestudent and his/her school (e.g., I feel like a real part of [name of school]). Participants respondon a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not at all true) to 5 (completely true). The PSSM is a
research instrument that is suitable for use with both teenagers and younger students, andresearchers have translated it into several languages including Mandarin (Cheung, 2004),
Hebrew (Sagy & Dotan, 2001), and French (Boily, 2002).
Second, Janosz and colleagues (1998) developed the Questionnaire sur l’environnement
socioéducatif (QES), which comprises several French-language measurement scales, at least
one of which measures students’ school belonging. Overall, the QES is a measurement tool
used to document the quality of the school environment; it also helps to study the influence ofthe school environment on students’ success and adaptation (Janosz et al., 2007). The items
essentially measure the emotional dimension of school belonging: je suis fier d’être un élève
de cette école (I am proud to be a student of this school); j’aime mon école (I like my school);
je me sens vraiment à ma place dans cette école (I really feel a sense of my place in this school);je préférerais être dans une autre école (I’d rather be in another school); cette école est
importante pour moi (this school is important to me).
Third, Midgley et al. (2000) developed the Manual for the Patterns of Adaptive Learning
Scales (PALS) in 1998 at the University of Michigan. Overall, the scales in the PALS are used
to examine the relationship between factors in the learning environment and the student’s
motivation, emotions, and behaviors. In the validation of their theoretical model, Roeser andcolleagues (1996) used a few items from the PALS to measure school belonging. The items inthis scale also measure the emotional dimensions of belonging: I feel like I belong in this school;
I feel like I am successful in this school; I feel like I matter in this school; I do not feel I am
important in this school. Table 1 assesses the limitations and strengths of these threequantitative instruments in regard to the items composing them and the four defining attributes
raised in the current study.

110

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Table 1: Comparative analysis of the main quantitative instruments for measuring the sense of
belonging at school: strengths and limitations.
Instruments and main
Strengths
Limitations
characteristics
Questionnaire sur l’environnement socioéducatif (QES)
The
Questionnaire
sur Thescaleswere There is an absence of items
l’environnement
socioéducatif developed in French, measuring defining attributes(QES) consists of many different thus facilitating the 2 and 3.
scales used to examine the impact instrument’s usage forof the school environment on French-speaking
students’ success and adaptation. samples; presence ofOne scale (six items) measures items
measuringschool belonging on a six-point defining attributes 1
Likert scale (1 = totally disagree; and 4.
6 = totally agree).
Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scale (PALS)
Scales derived from the PALS are The PALS has been the There is an absence of items
mainly used to examine the subject of several measuring defining attributes
studies; 2, 3, and 4.
relationship between the learning validation
environment
andstudents’ presence of items
motivation, affects, and behaviors. measuring
defining
In the validation of their attribute 1.
theoreticalmodel,
Roeser,Midgley, and Urdan (1996) usedfour items from the PALS tomeasure school belonging. A fivepoint Likert scale (1 = not all true;
3 = somewhat true of me; 5 = verytrue of me).
Psychological Sense of School Membership (PSSM)
The PSSM is used exclusively to The PSSM has a strong
measure school belonging. It theoretical backgroundconsists of 18 items on a five-point (Finn 1989; Wehlage
Likert scale (1 = not all true; 5 = et al., 1989). It hascompletely true).
been the subject ofseveralvalidation
studies, and items
measuringdefining
attributes 1, 2, and 4
are present.

Attribute 3 is the least well
represented within the itemsof the PSSM. Other themes
reflecting the notion of
involvement
couldbeconsidered: (1) showing
initiative in class; (2)participating actively inextracurricular activities (e.g.,sporting
activities,
sociocultural events, etc.).

Delineating the defining attributes of a concept is an important step toward understanding it
fully. A clear conceptualization of a concept can help to improve substantially the way in which
researchers measure it. If a measurement instrument adequately reflects the various attributesof a concept, it can facilitate interpretation of the results and comparison among studies, as well111

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017as any scientific advances in a given field of study. Therefore, the quality of the measurement
instrument and its validation are of paramount importance:
Researchers should develop instruments measuring the functioning of factors thatprovide data about both qualitative and quantitative characteristics. To do so, notonly should the construct validity of the instruments be examined but also thevalidity of the measurement framework, and this should be done by making use of
the Classical Test Theory and/or the Item Response Theory (IRT) (Creemers,
Kyriakides, & Sammons, 2010, p. 32).
Theoretical Models and Key Determinants
It should be noted that many theorists in the field of educational sciences have been interested
in the study of school belonging from a theoretical viewpoint to explain phenomena such as
school engagement and academic achievement (Anderman & Freeman, 2004; Beaumeister &Leary, 1995; Connell, Spencer, & Aber, 1994; Creemers & Kyriakides, 2008; Eccles & Roeser,
2009; Finn, 1989; Janosz et al., 1998; Juvonen, 2006; Newmann, Wehlage, & Lamborn, 1992;
Roeser et al., 1996; Wehlage et al., 1989). In their literature review on belonging, Allan andBowles (2012) mentioned many other relevant factors: parental involvement (Epstein, 1992),
typologies of love (Lee, 1973), belonging and attachment (Bowlby, 1969, 1973; Cohen, 1982,
1985), social capital (Putnam, 2000), and self-presentation (Fiske, 2014). A thoroughexamination of these theoretical models is beyond the scope of this paper.
However, a close examination of the theoretical models that have been developed in the
educational sciences allows us to pinpoint two important determinants of students’ school
belonging. First of all, it appears that positive social relations among peers contribute directly
and positively to building and sustaining students’ school belonging (Janosz et al., 1998;
Juvonen, 2006). In a thorough literature review on that perspective, Juvonen (2006) suggested
many types of social relations among peers that can be examined, such as dyadic relations,friendships, or peer acceptance. Theorists have also argued that positive social relations
between teachers and students directly and positively influence students’ school belonging(Janosz et al., 1998; Newman et al., 1992; Roeser et al., 1996; Wehlage et al., 1989). Juvonen(2006, p. 658) noted, “Students are presumed to comply and be motivated to learn when they
feel supported and respected by their teachers.” Along the same lines as Osterman (2010),
Wehlage and colleagues (1989) suggested that positive social relations between students andthe teacher can be considered through the lens of support and caring behaviors. These
researchers suggested offering: (1) constant support for students having difficulties, (2)constant support for students in order for them to meet the standards and skills required by theschool, (3) constant support so that students feel included in society, and (4) constant efforts to
help students establish and maintain respectful relationships.
Educational Strategies to Build and Sustain Students’ School Belonging
Allen and Bowles (2012) suggested effective strategies to guide teachers in building andmaintaining students’ school belonging. Some of these strategies were taken from theWingspread declaration on school connections (2004) and are congruent with Osterman’s(2010) position regarding the notion that school belonging can be enhanced throughinterpersonal support, encouragement of autonomy, and methods of instruction that shapepositive social dynamics with peers. For example, having high expectations of each student,
being fair and consistent in disciplinary management, making sure students adhere to school112

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017and classroom rules, creating a trusting climate, and considering students’ needs are multiple
strategies to enhance students’ school belonging (Wingspread, 2004). Other strategies reported
by Allen and Bowles (2012) were originally proposed by the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention (2009). Many of these are part of theoretical models in the field of educational
sciences that take school belonging into account. These strategies include adult support(Newman et al., 1992), a positive school climate and positive perceptions of the learning
environment (Janosz et al., 1998), and positive peer relations (Juvonen, 2006).
In our view, teachers should also examine Osterman’s (2010) work to gain insight into the mosteffective strategies in terms of intervening to develop students’ sense of belonging at school.
Osterman (2010) described a few studies aimed at identifying various teaching strategies andteachers’ attitudes/behaviors that possibly have a positive influence on school belonging.
Through a very long list of strategies, Osterman (2010) proposed two roles that teachers should
adopt: (1) academic support (teacher as instructional leader) and (2) personal support (teacher
as a person). Osterman (2010) used the expression academic support (teacher as instructional
leader) to address the wide range of teaching strategies that positively influence students’school belonging. Among these educational strategies Osterman (2010) suggested giving
examples, checking for understanding, engaging in problem solving, and giving students’choices. Osterman (2010) used another expression, personal support (teacher as a person), toemphasize the fact that effective teaching strategies are not enough alone to develop students’school belonging. On a daily basis, teachers must show adequate interpersonal support because
students perceive sound teaching partly through their teachers’ caring behaviors. Among many
personal support behaviors, Osterman (2010) suggested offering students guidance, knowing
students’ names, listening to students, using humor, and encouraging discussion.
Discussion
Considering the significant role of students’ school belonging in their engagement andacademic success, this paper makes six recommendations that can be applied by teachers,
school principals, school board leaders, school psychologists, or any other behavioral
intervention workers. In developing these recommendations, the four defining attributes ofbelonging have been considered, as well as teachers’ behaviors and instructional strategies.
Recommendation 1
Given that positive emotions are a fundamental element that defines a sense of belonging, theauthors recommend that school principals provide their teachers with ongoing training in active
listening to decode and take greater account of their students’ emotional well-being. According
to Gordon and Burch (2003, p. 76):
Active listening is not a gimmick that teachers can pull out of their bag of tricks topatch up students when they have problems. It is a specific method for putting towork a set of attitudes about students, about their problems, and about the role ofthe teacher as a helping person.
Gordon and Burch (2003, p. 74) suggested several aspects related to active listening strategies
in order for them to be effective:•

The teacher must have a deep sense of trust in students’ ability ultimately to solve theirown problems […].

113

IAFOR Journal of Education

•
•
•
•
•
•

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

The teacher must be able to genuinely accept the feelings expressed by students […].
The teacher must understand that feelings are often quite transitory […].
The teacher must want to help students with their problems and make time for it […].
Teachers must be “with” each student who is experiencing troubles […].
Teachers need to understand that students are seldom able to start out by sharing thereal problem […].
Teachers must respect the privacy and confidential nature of whatever the student
reveals about himself and his life […].

Recommendation 2
Because positive social relations, effective pedagogy and fulfilling needs – such as competence,autonomy, and relatedness – are essential elements for learning, the authors recommend thatteachers adopt two distinct roles with their students. First, as Osterman (2010) suggests, they
can offer personal support to the students (teacher as a person); this refers to the many ways of
supporting and of building and sustaining strong social bonds, and could include demonstrating
enthusiasm for teaching and learning through words and body language, disciplining
proactively rather than punitively, and understanding what is going on in the students’ lives.
The second role is related to academic support (teacher as an instructional leader); this preciselyrefers to effective teaching strategies (Osterman, 2010) and includes developing relevant
lessons, providing sufficient time for completion, emphasizing mastery in learning, andavoiding making comparisons between struggling students and other more capable students.
Recommendation 3
Because positive social relations among peers is an element that defines a sense of belonging,
the authors recommend the adoption of teaching strategies that encourage positive social
relationships, such as teamwork or cooperative learning tasks (Osterman, 2000). In the authors’view, attention must be paid to make sure that each student has a chance to play a role in a teamand feel accepted by their peers.
Recommendation 4
Because many theorists have suggested that positive social relations contribute to building andsustaining school belonging (Eccles & Roeser, 2009; Janosz et al., 1998; Juvonen, 2006;
Newman et al., 1992; Roeser et al., 1996; Wehlage et al., 1989), the authors recommend theimplementation of social competence programs quite early on in the students’ school career. In
reviewing the work of other scholars, Kalvin, Bierman, and Erath (2015, p. 1) suggested:To effectively promote positive peer relations, preschool programs need to target
the social-emotional skills that are “competence correlates” – skills that areassociated with peer acceptance and protect against peer rejection. During thepreschool years, these skills include: 1) cooperative play skills (taking turns, sharing
toys, collaborating in pretend play and responding positively to peers); 2) language
and communication skills (conversing with peers, suggesting and elaborating joint
play themes, asking questions and responding to requests for clarification, inviting
others to play); 3) emotional understanding and regulation (identifying the feelingsof self and other, regulating affect when excited or upset, inhibiting emotional
outbursts and coping with everyday frustrations); and 4) aggression control andsocial problem-solving skills (inhibiting reactive aggression, managing conflicts

114

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017verbally, generating alternative solutions to social problems and negotiating withpeers).
Recommendation 5
Because many authors define school belonging using the concept of harmonization (similarity
with members of the group) (Wehlage et al., 1989), the authors recommend educational
activities in which students can develop common interests with their peers within the classroom.
For instance, teams consisting of three to four students could create a website based on theteams’ interests early in the school year so that many projects could revolve around it (e.g.,
members share a team blog).
Recommendation 6
Because students’ participation in extracurricular activities positively influences school
belonging (Finn, 1989), the authors recommend engaging students in many extracurricular
activities related to various interests, such as sports, arts, technology, culture, etc. In doing so,
it will be possible to provide opportunities for students to develop common interests withstudents outside of their classroom.
Conclusion
Enhancing students’ school belonging is of paramount importance for students’ academic
success and engagement, and must therefore be taken into account in educational programs,
practice, and research. This paper, aligned with that of Allen and Bowles (2012) and Allen etal. (2016), allows us to present well-supported arguments in favor of more research on thispivotal concept. On a final note, researchers and teachers should be aware of the complexity of
the concept. In the authors’ view, more research could be carried out (1) to delineate thedefining attributes of belonging, and (2) to address the conceptual overlap among related
concepts associated with school belonging. Such work would facilitate the clarification ofmany concepts in education while refining the interpretation of results when examining school
belonging and its related concepts. By clarifying school belonging and its related concepts, theauthors believe it will greatly benefit practice and research.

115

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

References
Allen, J. B. (2006). The perceived belonging in sport scale: Examining validity. Psychology ofSport and Exercise, 7(4), 387–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2005.09.004
Allen, K., Kern, M. L., Vella-Brodrick, D., Hattie, J., & Waters, L. (2016). What schools needto know about fostering school belonging: A meta-analysis. Educational Psychology
Review, 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-016-9389-8
Allen, K. A., & Bowles, B. (2012). Belonging as a guiding principle in the education ofadolescents. Australian Journal of Educational & Developmental Psychology, 12, 108–
119.
Anant, S. S. (1967). Belongingness and mental health: Some research findings. Acta
Psychologica, 26(4), 391–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-6918(67)90035-2
Anderman, L. H., & Freeman, T. M. (2004). Students’ sense of belonging in school. In P.R.
Pintrich & M. L. Maehr (Eds.), Motivating students, improving schools: The legacy of
Carol
Midgley,
Vol.
13
(pp.
27–63).
Oxford,UK:
Elsevier.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-7423(03)13002-6
Anderson-Butcher, D., & Conroy, D. E. (2002). Factorial and criterion validity of scores of ameasure of belonging in youth development programs. Educational and Psychological
Measurement, 62(5), 857–876. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316402236882
Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal
attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497–
529. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497
Berktold, J., Geis, S., & Kaufman, P. (1998). Subsequent educational attainment of high school
dropouts (NCES-98-085). Washington, DC: US Department of Education.
Boily, R. (2002). Étude descriptive longitudinale du sentiment d'appartenance envers l'école
chez des élèves du secondaire des secteurs publics et privés. (Unpublished doctoral
dissertation). Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Attachment (Vol. 1). London, UK: Hogarth.
Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Separation (Vol. 2). New York, NY: Basic Books.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). School connectedness: Strategies forincreasing protective factors among youth. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health andHuman Services.
Cheung, H. Y. (2004). Comparing Shanghai and Hong Kong students’ psychological sense ofschoolmembership.
Asia
Pacific
Education
Review,
5(1),34–38.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03026277
Christenson, S. L., & Thurlow, L. M. (2004). School dropouts: Prevention considerations,interventions, and challenges. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13(1), 36–
39. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2004.01301010.x
Cohen, A. P. (1982). Belonging: Identity and social organization in British rural cultures.
Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press.

116

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Cohen, A. P. (1985). The symbolic construction of community. London, UK: Tavistock.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203323373
Connell, J. P., Spencer, M. B., & Aber, J. L. (1994). Educational risk and resilience in AfricanAmerican youth: Context, self, action, and outcomes in school. Child Development, 65(2),493-506. https://doi.org/10.2307/1131398
Creemers, B. P. M., & Kyriakides, L. (2008). The dynamics of educational effectiveness: A
contribution to policy, practice and theory in contemporary schools. New York, NY:
Routledge.
Creemers, B. P. M., Kyriakides, L., & Sammons, P. (2010). Methodological advances in
educational effectiveness research. New York, NY: Routledge.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “What” and “Why” of goal pursuits: Human needs andthe self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
Deci, E. L., Vallerand, R. J., Pelletier, L. G., & Ryan, R. M. (1991). Motivation and education:
The self-determination perspective. Educational Psychologist, 26(3-4), 325–346.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.1991.9653137
Eccles, J. S., & Roeser, R. W. (2009). Schools, academic motivation, and stage–environment
fit. In R. M. Lerner & L. Steinberg (Eds.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (3rd ed.,pp. 404–434). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470479193.adlpsy001013
Epstein, J. (1992). School and family partnerships. In M. Adkin (Ed.), Encyclopedia ofeducational research (6th ed., pp. 1139-1151). New York, NY: MacMillan.
Finn, J. D. (1989). Withdrawing from school. Review of Educational Research, 59(2), 117–
142. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543059002117
Fiske, S. T. (2014). Social Beings: Core motives in social psychology. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Flynn, T. M. (1997). A sense of school membership and extracurricular activities.
(Unpublished dissertation). University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Goodenow, C. (1993a). Classroom belonging among early adolescent students: Relationships
to motivation and achievement. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 13(1), 21–43.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431693013001002
Goodenow, C. (1993b). The psychological sense of school membership among adolescents:
Scale development and educational correlates. Psychology in the Schools, 30(1), 79–90.
https://doi.org/10.1002/1520-6807(199301)30:1<79::AID-PITS2310300113>3.0.CO;2X
Gordon, T., & Burch, N. (2003). Teacher effectiveness training: The program proven to help
teachers bring out the best in students of all ages. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.
Hagborg, W. J. (1994). An exploration of school membership among middle- and high-school
students.
Journalof
Psychoeducational
Assessment,
12(4),
312–323.
https://doi.org/10.1177/073428299401200401

117

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Hagerty, B. M., Williams, R. A., Coyne, J. C., & Early, M. R. (1996). Sense of belonging andindicators of social and psychological functioning. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing,
10(4), 235–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9417(96)80029-X
Hagerty, B. M. K., Lynch-Sauer, J., Patusky, K. L., Bouwsema, M., & Collier, P. (1992). Senseof belonging: A vital mental health concept. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 6(3), 172–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/0883-9417(92)90028-H
Hagerty, B. M. K., & Patusky, K. (1995). Developing a measure of sense of belonging. Nursing
Research, 44(1), 9–13. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006199-199501000-00003
Janosz, M., Bouthillier, C., Bowen, F., Chouinard, R., & Desbiens, N. (2007). Rapport devalidation du Questionnaire sur l'Environnement Socioéducatif des écoles primaires(QES-primaire). Montréal, QC: Université de Montréal.
Janosz, M., Georges, P., & Parent, P. (1998). L’environnement socioéducatif à l'école
secondaire: Un modèle théorique pour guider l'évaluation du milieu. Revue Canadienne
de Psychoéducation, 27(2), 285–306.
Juvonen, J. (2006). Sense of belonging, social bonds, and school functioning. In P. A.
Alexander & P. H. Winne (Eds.), Handbook of educational psychology (2nd ed., pp. 655–
674). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Kalvin, C., Bierman, K. L., & Erath, S. A. (2015). Prevention and intervention programs
promoting positive peer relations in early childhood. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood
Development. Viitattu, 9, 2015.
Kestenberg, M., & Kestenberg, J. S. (1988). The sense of belonging and altruism in children
who survived the Holocaust. Psychoanalytic Review, 75(4), 533–560.
Langevin, L. (1999). L’abandon scolaire, on ne naît pas décrocheur! Outremont, Québec:Éditions Logiques.
Lavigne, G. L., Vallerand, R. J., & Crevier-Braud, L. (2011). The fundamental need to belong:On the distinction between growth and deficit-reduction orientations. Personality andSocial
Psychology
Bulletin,37(9),
1185–1201.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167211405995
Lee, J. A. (1973). Colours of love: An exploration of the ways of loving. Toronto, Ontario: New
Press.
Maslow, A. H. (1962). Towards a psychology of need. Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand.
https://doi.org/10.1037/10793-000
Maslow, A. H. (1970). Motivation and personality. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Midgley, C., Maehr, M. L., Hruda, L. Z., Anderman, E., Anderman, L., Freeman, K. E. …, &Urdan, T. (2000). Manual for the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scales (PALS). Ann
Arbor, MI: University of Michigan.
Mucchielli, R. (1972). Options et changement d'opinion. Paris, France: ESF.
Mucchielli, R. (1980). Le travail en groupe. Paris, France: ESF.
Neel, C. G. O., & Fuligni, A. (2013). A longitudinal study of school belonging and academic
motivation across high school. Child Development, 84(2), 678–692.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01862.x

118

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Negola, T. D. (1998). Development of an instrument for predicting at-risk potential foradolescent street gang membership. Journal of Gang Research, 5(4), 1–14.
Newmann, F. M., Wehlage, G. G., & Lamborn, S. D. (1992). The significance and sources ofstudent engagement. In F. M. Newmann (Ed.), Student engagement and achievement in
American secondary schools (pp. 11–39). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Osterman, K. F. (2000). Students’ need for belonging in the school community. Review of
Educational Research, 70(3), 323–367. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543070003323
Osterman, K. F. (2010). Teacher practice and students’ sense of belonging. In T. Lovat, R.
Toomey, & N. Clement (Eds.), International Research Handbook on Values Educationand Student Wellbeing (pp. 239–260). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8675-4_15
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. New
York, NY: Simon and Schuster. https://doi.org/10.1145/358916.361990
Richer, S. F., & Vallerand, R. J. (1998). Construction et validation de l’Échelle du sentimentd’appartenance sociale. European Review of Applied Psychology, 48(2), 129–138.
Roeser, R. W., Midgley, C., & Urdan, T. C. (1996). Perceptions of the school psychologicalenvironment and early adolescents’ psychological and behavioral functioning in school:
The mediating role of goals and belonging. Journal of Educational Psychology, 88(3),408–422. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.88.3.408
Sagy, S., & Dotan, N. (2001). Coping resources of maltreated children in the family: A
salutogenic approach. Child Abuse & Neglect, 25(11), 1463–1480.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0145-2134(01)00285-X
Smith, K. K., & Berg, D. N. (1987). Paradoxes in group life: Understanding conflict, paralysis,
and movement in group dynamics. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Walker, L., & Avant, K. C. (2011). Strategies for theory construction (5th ed.). New York, NY:
Prentice Hall.
Wehlage, G. G., Rutter, R. A., Smith, G. A., Lesko, N., & Fernandez, R. R. (1989). Reducing
the risk: Schools as communities of support. Philadelphia, PA: Falmer Press.
Williams, L. J., & Downing, J. E. (1998). Membership and belonging in inclusive classrooms:
What do middle school students have to say? Journal of the Association for Persons with
Severe Handicaps, 23(2), 98–110. https://doi.org/10.2511/rpsd.23.2.98
You, S., Ritchey, K. M., Furlong, M. J., Shochet, I., & Boman, P. (2011). Examination of thelatent structure of the psychological sense of school membership scale. Journal of
Psychoeducational Assessment, 29(3), 225–237.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282910379968
Wingspread declaration on school connections (2004). Journal of School Health, 74(7), 233–
234.
Corresponding author: Jonathan Smith
Email: jonathan.smith@umontreal.ca

119

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

120

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Friends with Benefits: Causes and Effects of Learners’ Cheating
Practices During Examination

Leo Andrew B. Diego
Roxas National Comprehensive High School, Philippines

121

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Abstract
Cheating during examinations is triggered by peer influence. It makes every learner know anddo what should not be done. Cheating during examinations defeats the purpose ofunderstanding, applying and creating ideas as stipulated in the revised Bloom’s taxonomy byAnderson. The study reported here was designed to delve into the reasons and aspirations of
the respondents in their cheating engagement. Sixteen (16) key informants, selected using
random sampling procedure among Junior and Senior High School learners of Roxas National
Comprehensive High School in Palawan during the months of June to October 2016, completed
open-ended questionnaires and took part in the interview. Nvivo software was used in theanalysis of the themes that emerged from the data. This study discovered that friendship is
manipulated, for it makes doing right things unacceptable and things to be avoided like cheating
seem right and acceptable. The behavior about cheating during examination is deeply rooted
in the culture of pakikisama (social acceptance/liking) and utang ng loob (debt of gratitude). If
a learner does not share his or her answers, he or she will be labeled as walang pakisama (noconcern).This paper then argues that honesty should not be just a policy; rather, honesty in thiscase, is the only policy. Condemning academic dishonesty must not merely rest in theenrollment forms, but by constant moral reminder and intervention of teachers who have a
responsibility to hone learners’ decorum on honesty and maturity.
Keywords: academic cheating; examination; academic performance; friends, cheating
practices; social connection.

122

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Introduction
I cheat with, from and for my friends. This is a prevalent mindset of learners whenever they
are facing difficulties during examinations. Cheating on examinations in academic institutions
is a worldwide issue (Berhan & Desalegn, 2014). Adolescents are at a time in their lives where
peer influence and peer pressure are high (Rettinger & Kramer, 2009). Student habits and views
on cheating are developed in high school (Mccabe, Butterfield, & Trevino, 2012). In the adventof the twenty first century generation, one of the most disturbing and alarming problems in
education is underpinned by students’ ways of cheating. Cheating occurs when a student
obtains or attempts to obtain some advantage or extra marks by any dishonest or deceptivemeans. This can include lying; copying from another's test or examination; interacting withother students during assessments and taking any unauthorised material into an examination
venue (Jordan, 2001, McCabe et al., 2001, Northumbria University, 2013). Thus, cheating is
considered as one of the forms of academic misconduct that has become one of the biggest
concerns of educational institutions (Wilkinson, 2009). Problems concerning cheating became
evident not only among undergraduate university students, but also among secondary learners
in recent times. “Cheating or academic misdemeanor is not a new phenomenon” (Taradi et al.,2012, p. 14), but a long-familiar problem not only in many European countries but in thePhilippines in particular. This is a kind of misconduct in such a way that it undermines students’capability to master lessons and achieve excellence in their performance and learningcompetencies as embedded in the curriculum guide provided by the Department of Education.
Academic dishonesty can be defined as the students’ use of illegal activities, techniques andforms of fraud during their examination or evaluation processes, usually for the purpose ofachieving better grades (Manar & Shameem, 2014).
In the Philippine educational system, its participants, learners in particular, are required tofaithfully follow the mandate of excellence, mastery and integrity of learning knowledge andskills, which are intended for the proliferation of their infinite potentials which lie dormant if
untouched with the graces of academic instructions. In this sense, this purpose is nowadays
almost and always frustrated by misconducts or undisciplined performances among the learnersof this 21st century era. Technological advancements have made cheating easier and more
prolific (McGregor & Stuebs, 2012). “The process of how students cheat has been the topic ofextensive research” (Baker, et al., 2008, p. 28). This paper supplements the established findingson academic dishonesty by delineating the innovative techniques that students use to respondto perceived difficulty and frustrations encountered within the context of Junior and SeniorHigh School learners in Roxas National Comprehensive High School, Roxas, Palawan,
Philippines.
The Aim of the Study
Why do students from all age groups and levels of achievement participate in cheating? One
line of speculation is that dishonesty in school is just a reflection of a much broader erosion of
ethical behavior that has become commonplace in a society that tends to support selfcenteredness over concern for others (Sommers & Satel, 2005). To delineate the essence of theissue, I focus my attention on the following topics:
1. The reasons why students copy other learner’s answer during examinations
2. The ways by which students copy other learners’ answers
3. The effects of copying other learner’s answers in personal and social identity

123

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

4. The interventions that need to be maintained, formulated and implemented to respond on
this issue.
Theoretical Framework“Social learning theory focuses on the learning that occurs within a social context. It considers
that people learn from one another, including such concepts such as observational learning,
imitation and modelling” (Corpuz & Lucas, 2011, p. 82). Inherent with this theory are theprinciples such as observing the behavior of others and outcome of those behaviors, learning
occurs without a change in behavior, and cognition plays a role in learning. In the midst of thiscompelling issue copying other learners’ answers, the Department of Education through its
teachers, is making better alternatives and remediation for students failing marks. Then,copying-in-the making issue somehow reverberates in the halls of students’ unconscious
behaviors with and without teacher in front of them. “Cheating is rampant in professional
schools, a major shift has occurred in cheating related attitudes including peer behavior andethical environments, and a deeply embedded honors code can play a key role in creating an
ethical environment” (McCabe et al., 2012, p. 67).
Literature Review
The reasons for cheating are influenced by peer pressure.

Figure 1: Factors that enhance academic cheating (Sarita, 2015).
As can be seen in the Figure 1, peer pressure is the prime mover of cheating. If peers in theirpeer group are choosing academic dishonesty, then they are more likely to do the same
(McCabe, 1999 as cited by Sarita, 2015). Adolescents are influenced by what their peers do
and they form their peer groups around similar interests. Peer influence is at its highest at thispoint in their lives. Secondly, home environment, which refers to the conditions where people
live, is another factor in cheating. The old saying “The most important work you do takes place
within the walls of your home”. It is noticeable that children learn many things at home not
only in academics but also in values like honesty in particular. Academic dishonesty is more
likely to occur with parental pressure to get good grades (Taylor, et al. 2002). The third factor
is learners’ learning styles. Some students are naturalistic while others are visual and auditory.
Learning styles like cognitive, affective and physiological behaviour serve as relatively stable124

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017indicators of how learners perceive, interact with and respond to the learning environment.
Fourth, there is a school environment where academic cheating takes place. There are manyreasons why an adolescent may choose academic cheating over academic integrity.
Adolescents compete against each other for class rank (Sarita, 2015).
Class rank helps them edge their way into competitive institutions and colleges. Politics in aschool may also play an important factor for who get caught and disciplined accordingly when
they engage in academic dishonesty (Riera & Di Prisco, 2002 as cited by Sarita, 2015).
Teachers have some influence on how to set up their classrooms, as well as goals set andattained throughout the academic school year. Teachers can have mastery goal structure or
performance goal structure in their classroom. Mastery goals focus on learning andimprovement, whereas performance goals are based on grades and what one can do to be at the
top. Sarita (2015) claimed that Educational anxiety is the combination of anxiety andacademic anxiety. Students have many anxieties related to education as pressure by parents
and schools to achieve top scores has created stress levels among students. The students know
cheating is wrong but they feel like the most important thing they do is get grades. In fact,
much of the research on academic cheating has been centered on elucidating possible
psychological reasons why students engage in cheating behavior. This research paper by Sarita(2015) contributed to researcher’s understanding of the social millieu and development of thiscurrent study about cheating, for it manifested the prime factors why learners’ cheatparticularly peer group which influence the flow of academic dishonesty.
In the study of Kwong et al. (2010), he found that students participate in academic misconduct
because of their workloads and time pressures, their desire to achieve good grades, and unclear
instructions from teachers about what constitutes academic misconduct. Moreover, societal andtechnological factors that may contribute to increased tendency towards cheating include: lackof awareness, peer culture, lack of punishment, absence of risk and pressure to achieve (Ma, etal. 2006). Classrooms that stresses high grades and test scores may lead the learners to cheat.
Situational factors also contribute to the students’ tendency to cheat. For instance, somestudents find their work challenging or boring, fear failure, lack training and may be pressured
by insufficient time to study and heavy workloads (Razera et al., 2010).
In modern times, cheating involves the possession, communication or use of information,materials, notes, study aids or other devices not authorized by the instructor in an academic
exercise, or communication with another person during such an exercise. It was noted that thereason to cheat were: Not preparing for the exam, lack of time to study, carelessness and lackof punishment from instructors. The most common methods of cheating were found to becopying from other test studies and talking to neighbors during the exam, besides using certain
gestures to get answers from others (Ahmadi, 2012). Many students cheat just to receive apassing grade and impress their parents and teacher. Academic cheating is caused by manyreasons; parental pressure, teacher pressure and poor time management. Teacher pressure will
generate the need for students to cheat academically. Academic cheating is a growing concern
among adolescents in schools worldwide (Sarita, 2015).
One notable character and uniqueness of this study is that available literatures can be commonly
found in research conducted on higher education but not extensive in secondary education.
According to the Center for Academic Integrity (Fields, 2003), 75% of students in higher
education admit to cheating behaviors. However, only over 20% of 1,369 undergraduates
studied reported that they had committed an act of academic dishonesty while in college(Stearns, 2001).

125

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Methodology and Methods
An open-ended questionnaires designed to evaluate Junior and Senior High School learners’
awareness in Roxas National Comprehensive High School were administered to sixteen key
informants during the months of June to October 2016. In the process of interview method, therespondents were asked to fill out the questionnaire and answer all the questions with audiorecorded files. The first part of the questionnaire is about the codename, age, section and year
level intended for confidentiality of informations. In the second part of the questionnaire,
respondents were asked to assess their knowledge and experiences through the qualitativeinterview guide.
The questions concentrated on knowledge and awareness about copying answers during
examinations, causes and impacts of cheating phenomenon as well as respondents’ responses.
The questionnaires were randomly distributed to the all-secondary levels using conveniencesampling. Furthermore, Nvivo software was used to analyze the themes, which are geared toprovide solutions to the problem of cheating during examinations. This oeuvre sets its limit in
the realm of secondary level particularly at Roxas National Comprehensive High School as its
center of reference. Delineating the prime reasons and effects of academic dishonesty trigger
the researcher to find out student’s aspirations in meeting the standard of the academe among
Junior and Senior High School learners in Roxas National Comprehensive High School.
Results
The first part of the questionnaire categorically focused on learners’ experiences of cheating
during examinations. The choices presented revolved on quizzes, mastery tests, periodical tests
in Junior High School learners while chapter/unit test and quarterly Examinations for SeniorHigh School learners. Data revealed that the majority of the informants disclosed theirexperiences in cheating during quizzes, mastery and periodical tests. Data also found that
respondents’ behavior on cheating is highly dependent on their aspiration for passing grades inorder to be qualified for promotion.
More than half of the informants confessed that they have no experience of being caught in theact while cheating. Their common response came from the second part of the questionnairethat asked the question: Have you had worst experiences of being caught in the act whilecheating? But then, one of the respondents disclosed that she could not forget the experienceof being reprimanded by her teacher and it was reported to her parents. She suffered emotional
pains of being treated as someone who is not using her mind by her father.
Table 1: Systematic results of interviews with the informants.
Codename

Age

Current
Year
level

Grade
level
when
cheating
is learned

Causes ofcheating
duringexam

Ways ofcheating
duringexam

Effectsofcheating
in exam

Subject/s
that needcheating

BOY

13

7

2

15

9

3

Cheatingfrom friends
Friendly toclassmates

Low selfesteem
Low selfesteem

EnglishAXL

Difficultyof Subject
Peer
Influence

126

Mathematics

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

SKO

16

11

3

Difficultyof Subject

JED

14

8

5

Not readyfor exam

LAD

15

9

4

Peer
influence

HAB

14

8

5

Difficultyof Subject

TIN

17

11

3

Not readyfor exam

GEN

14

7

4

Difficultyof Subject

WEM

14

8

4

Difficultyof Subject

MEN

15

9

5

Not readyfor exam

SER

16

11

6

Peer
influence

REX

16

10

7

Not readyfor exam

KID

13

7

6

Peer
influence

LOY

14

8

5

JET

15

10

JOY

14

9

Looking atclassmates'
papersSignlanguage
Looking atclassmates'
papersBy makingfriends ofclassmates
By makingfriends ofclassmatesSign
language
Being
friendly toclassmates
Looking at
the paper ofmyclassmate/s.
Signlanguage

Passing
gradesScienceMakeparents
proud
Avoid
failing
gradesAvoid
failing
gradesMathematics

Avoid
failing
gradesGet goodandpassing
grade
Passing
gradesEnglishMathematics
Science

Mathematics

Mathematics

Passing
gradesMathematics

Passing
gradesScience

Go out andlook foranswersSign
language

Avoid
failing
gradesPassing
gradesScience

Peer
Influence

Makingfriends ofclassmates

Avoid
failing
gradesMathematics

3

Peer
influence

Friendly toclassmates

English4

Peer
Influence

Being
friendly toclassmates

Wish tohelp afriendPassing
gradesEnglishMathematics

As can be seen in Table 1, sixteen (16) informants who participated in the interview have theirrespective codenames. The age bracket of the respondents is from thirteen (13) to seventeen(17) years old, the majority being fourteen years old. Their respective year levels are randomly
selected from grade seven to grade eleven. Most of the respondents are from grade eight (8)and grade nine (9). As presented in the table, most of them learned and began to cheat during
their elementary years, specifically grades three, four and five. Peer influence is the dominantcause of cheating during examination among the respondents. Aside from peer influence, the127

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017difficulty of the exam and not being able to prepare for examination are the primary causes ofcheating behavior. Making friends of their classmates is the most common attitude of the
respondents. More than half of the respondents admitted that the primary effect of cheating forthem is to get passing grades in order to make their parents proud. However, low self-esteem
is one of the effects for a minority of the informants. “Participants who cheated had lower selfesteem in comparison with those who did not cheat. As regards attitude towards disloyalty, it
was found that loyalty had a low value for the participants who cheated, while non-cheaters
valued it highly” (Blachnio & Weremko, 2011). Mathematics is the most difficult subject for
majority of the informants in this study. Aside from Mathematics, Science and English had
been mentioned.
Discussions
When the informants were asked by the question as to what made them engage in cheating
during examinations, more than half of them responded that aside from primary causes
presented in table 1, they did not understand the topic or lesson discussed and they did notreview their lessons beforehand. Moreover, the teacher does not give punishment when he andshe caught them. In addition, they are too lazy to listen to discussion because their teacher isvery strict. In these particular cases, a lack of the skill in understanding wide and various arrayof academic notions penetrated and dominated learners’ behavior towards the discussion. It
must be noted that in the context of 21st century learners, they are very inclined towards
collaborative activities rather than plain traditional discussion strategies given by their teachers.
Attention and focus are the main skills that are interrupted if the teaching strategies are very
traditional. Hence, learners are gradually losing their appetite in substantial absorption ofconcepts in the classroom. Data revealed that continuous decrease of attention and focus
because of traditional teaching pedagogies served as prime factors and causes of learner’s
dependency on cheating with their seatmates during examinations.
Most of the informants admitted that they have highly creative ways of copying other learners’
answers during examinations. Data revealed that learners academically cheat by way of looking
at and asking for their classmates answers, giving and receiving a crumpled paper containing
answers on the exam, writing the answers on their hand and desk, sign language, going out
while exam is ongoing and look for the answers on their pocket device. Moreover, they cheatby means of recording the answers to their cellular phones and listening on them via headset
while taking examination, having picture of the answer in cellular phone during mastery test
and look at these answers during periodical test. For them, most of the test questions in mastery
test or unit test for senior high school are the same with periodical test of quarterly assessment
questions.
Utilitarian Perspective of Friendship on Cooperative Cheating
A friend is defined as a person who helps or supports someone, a favored companion, one thatis not hostile, and the one attached to another by affection or esteem (Merriam dictionary).
Along in-class examination, friendship is at the momentum zone that is either to build strongly
or break abruptly. The most common strategy that they are doing when copying is by making
friends of their classmates who are intelligent in the subject in order to copy through looking
and asking their classmates’ answers. Loy, one of the informants, highlighted this theme bysaying: “I need to befriend my classmates for me to be able to copy their answers if I do notknow the answer.” In line with the gender codes, respondents revealed that their peers arecommonly the same gender. Male learners are building friendship not just socially but also for128

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

academic benefits involving cheating during examinations. My data revealed that male learners
are more susceptible to cheating than female. It is because most of the males are always at theback of the classroom where they have boys’ talk while discussion is ongoing, thus, making
them not copy or hear what the teacher is presenting or the activity being given to them.
Birds with the same feather flock together, as the saying would tell. As friends, individuals
share the same interest, likings, hobbies and aspirations. Emerging themes from the datasuggested three kinds of group of friends in relation to in-class examination, namely: the slow
friends, the average friends and the elite friends.
1. Slow friends tend to go together in one place in the classroom. For them there is a feelingof belongingness, that is, they gain confidence through each other’s way or means of help
in times of uncertainty during examination. If this means does not work, they resort into
tapping their friends on average levels. Their passion is not on reviewing but radically on
depending on other’s answers.
2. Average friends are those learners who oftentimes deal with accommodating and helping
slow learners to cope with their answer if left unguarded. They make every way possible
to copy answers from the elite learners.
3. Elite friends are the ones who are very competitive. Most of them, as revealed by the
informants are not sharing answers. But, if they are triggered by the maintaining grade
posed by their academic strand, they tend to give in to idea that one for all, all for one.
They are also receiving free snacks from their friends if all of them passed. They shiftedfrom a notion that we study because we compete with each other to the idea that we study
because we need keep every classmate on track.
Causes and Effects of Cheating During Examination
Data revealed that peer pressure is one of the most triggering causes in this kind of academic
dishonesty. Moreover, the findings revealed that unpreparedness causes stress and triggeredwith time pressure deeply affected learners to cheat during examinations. Rex shared his
experience in this regard: “Peer pressure caused me to be stressed if I cannot answer thequestions correctly. So, I just wait to find a way and copy if the proctor is not guarding us.”
As to their aspirations, most of the informants conceded that they do not want to feel ashamed
to their parents because of their failing grades. In their mindset, they copy during examinationin order to get good grades, make their parents proud, avoid failing grades, and to be happy
still despite knowing that they pass examination through unfair copying others’ answers. Whenthey were asked as to how certain are they that the answer which they copied is true or not,they commonly answered that they are confident that their seatmate’s answer is true for she or
he is their friend. For them, they have this saying that friends do not lie and leave each other.
Data revealed that duration of time given is not a problem but the access to friends who know
the answer. Kid stated: “Time is not a problem as long as you have a friend who knows theanswer, the problem is if you both do not know the answer.”
Learners’ cheating habits during examination is notably rooted in their elementary years. Mostof them revealed that their dishonest behavior occurred between grades two (2) and four (4).
Peer influence is the common cause of this problem of copying. Because their friends arecheating, so are they. In this realm, curiosity and a need to be belong could also be noticed as

129

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

the cognitive tendencies that played a huge effect to learners developing the habit of copying
other learners’ answers during examinations.
Upon probing on the subjects which they found difficult and in which they are always copying,data revealed that Mathematics is the most challenging subject for senior high school learners.
This finding is the opposite on the basis of Junior high school learners which revealed that
Science, Math and English are the most difficult subjects. When asked what particular subjects
are easy to cope with, data revealed subjects such as Filipino language and values.
Most of the informants have a conviction that this culture of copying other learners’ answers
during examination could be put to an end if and only if every learner avoids and controls
himself to academically cheat. The majority of the respondents reported that academic cheating
particularly copying during examination decreases self-confidence and understanding in theiracademic performance. For them the ideal was that they prefer to be failed than to cheat duringexam, but in reality, they detach themselves from that ideal when they find themselves
unprepared, time pressured, and that particular subject is for them difficult to bearacademically.
Teachers’ Practical Interventions on the Issue
Enforcing academic integrity by limiting the opportunity for academic fraud in the first place
is a herculean task, but it is one that is controllable: data agree with the claim that teachers and“professors can do simple things such as making sure that desks are free of scribbled notes,that book bags are closed, that hats are removed. Further, they can look for gazes that repeatedly
veer off into areas other than the test; multiple versions of exams can be administered in smallclassrooms rather than auditoriums; instructors can also employ additional proctors during
exams, adopting wide and fixed space seating” (Jones, 2011, p. 45). In addition, many of theinformants suggested monitoring techniques that are effective such as: Set A, Set B technique,random eat plans, supply type test strategies (e.g. essay, identification and modified true or
false,) no gadgets, no talking and going out while exam is ongoing and alphabetical seating
arrangement.
Career and Academic Implications
The study is formulated among Roxas National Comprehensive High School Junior and SeniorHigh School learners. Thus, based on the questionnaire, awareness about copying otherlearners’ during examination are noted in the author’s conclusion about the following:
1. Informants admitted that they learned copying since their early days in elementary
school. First, they act as observers and the need to be in the group triggered the
manifested behavior of copying. Imitation is not wrong if put in its proper context. In
business, for example, modelling is evident, for it makes an entrepreneur imitate all thestrategies and skills in order for him to be effective and efficient. However, in the school,
the implication is reversed. Learners should internalize the lessons discussed for them tobe able to be critical thinkers upon landing in their chosen field in the future. If cheatingis the culture that they imbibed, then they probably cannot pass in any board or bar exam
where their need for job security is on the line. Learning in a solitary environment may
motivate more learning and thus overcome the need for cheating, meaning that people
may be able to learn and pass exams in other contexts.

130

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

2. They are differentiated in terms of the subject, which they treated as difficult in which
they feel the need to copy during examinations. There are informants who found it hardto deal with Mathematics yet comfortable in learning English. On the other hand, there
were also informants who found that English is more difficult than Mathematics that is
why they need to copy others’ answers. The bottom line is learners’ learning abilities arecomplex, for everybody is unique. Then, cheating cannot be a rational means oncompensating different strengths and weakness upon taking hard subjects. Honesty is
tested when a learner admits to himself and desire to change his weakness into strength
by seeking help from his peers and teachers for interventions. In this way, a learner will
have self-confidence in bearing difficulty on the examination.
3. Most informants happened to cheat during examination in order to deal with their
aspirations like passing the particular subject and consequently make their parents proud.
Promotion became the main factor in cheating engagement. But, some of the informants
realized that even if they think and know that they pass already, their conscience hauntthem at the end of the day. Their conscience that cheating is not a moral way to get
promoted. Some of them are rationalizing that maybe those subjects are no value to thejobs that they will do someday, without even considering that honesty which they
defeated is the prime factor that determines their altitude or downfall.
4. Most of the informants realized that copying other learners’ answers triggers lack of selfconfidence and lack of passion in learning. Low self-esteem and feeling of boredom
makes a person suffer when he is at his field of work or employment. On this dimension,
many informants disclosed that they have to adhere to not cheating for them to earn selfconfidence.
5. To extinguish this habit of academic dishonesty especially during examination,
informants suggested that they could resort to intensive concentration on reviewing theirlesson beforehand in order that they will not be stressed and rattled as examination
continues to go along with their ways. This attitude then makes every learner attainedthat highest level of revised Bloom’s taxonomy, that is, creativity. In life, love andbusiness, creativity that emanates from focus makes everything successful and excellent.
6. For some adolescents, parental pressure is high at this age in regard to academics (Strom& Strom, 2007). However, data revealed that informants resorted to cheat during
examination because of the lack of parental presence who are supposed to guide them intheir quest for knowledge internalization by giving advises and inspirational messages.
This research found that the need for parental moral support in the home is needed.
Another influential factor why students cheat is that there are some parents who are very
judgemental when they knew that their son or daughter got a failing grade in school. The
fear of being reprimanded and treated as someone who is undeserving of support fromparents makes every student engage in cheating during examination. Thus, even thoselearners who are living in the boarding house must have an ample time of communication
between them and their parents.
7. Friendship became very practical. Learners who depend on building friends in order tocopy during examinations are very utilitarian in character. They are always harmonious
relationship with those learners whom they know they can benefit from, but resent those
who do not share their answers. It is as if friendship is manipulated for it makes rightthings to do unacceptable and things to be avoided as if they are the right things to do.

131

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

As Filipinos, this behavior is deeply rooted on the culture of pakikisama (need to bebelong) and utang na loob (debt of gratitude). If a learner does not share his or her
answers, he or she will be labeled as walang pakisama (no concern). To get rid to thiskind of social indifference, many learners resort to share their answers even if they know
it is not the right thing to do.
8. Cheating during examination became students’ way of building social connection. Even
if the test is very easy, still they are relying on their friends’ answers for confirmation.
Social connection makes every learner confident and ready to face any academic
challenges. Although building social connection among learners is a part of being human,
they must not forget to value the essence of honesty. The virtue of honesty makes social
connection firm and stand for a long period of time. There is a Filipino maxim whichstates: “Ang pagsasabi ng tapat ay pagsasama ng maluwat” (Honesty is a way to have along term relationship). Honesty is the opposite of utilitarian thinking among students.
Cheating as a way of building social connection paves an opportunity only for short term
bonds among students. It is because if they are caught by their teacher, they would bepunished. This culture of cheating among students will greatly affect their career in the
future and relationship with their loved ones. Social connection is a form of collaboration.
Another perceived cheating as a form of collaboration, a skill that is valuable in thebusiness world (Aaron & Roche, 2013).
Conclusion
This paper then argues that honesty should not be just a policy; rather, honesty in this case, isthe only policy. Indeed, teachers nowadays cannot assume that learners know and abide by the
unwritten moral codes and rules imposed by school, family and society as a whole. Henceforth,
to uphold honesty and matureness is to emphasize these rules and codes. The rules and codes
must not merely rest in the enrollment forms or written school policies, but it must be in action,
meaning to say in constant reminder given and intervened by teachers who have full authority
and responsibility to hone learners in the light of honesty and maturity as enduring values in
the arena of life.
I argue in this paper that learners’ illegitimate means of responding to failure and frustration
during examinations are not to be counted as excuse for them to be recognized as highly
innovative. Through making friends of their intelligent peers, tolerating their dishonest
behavior by giving answers because of friendship, gaining confidence through social approval,
for everyone does it, feeling of being intelligent because of cheating practices and manipulating
gadgets to copy clear-cut answers should not be tolerated. These innovative ways are not goodor bad in themselves (amoral) but if they are put in the wrong context (academics), which
upholds the virtues of honesty for self-discovery of skills and self-mastery of talents, thesementioned means of cheating becomes immoral, and thus destructive for every learner who
engages in this practice.
Effective Communication between Parents and Their Children
Indeed, educators cannot provide all of the guidance that students require to adopt honesty asa lifestyle. Some parents tell daughters and sons that cheating is a fact of life in the world ofwork and this has forced them to cheat in order to succeed. When parents act in this way,
condoning dishonesty and deception as standard, it becomes challenging for educators tocounter the message that power of cheating makes it an acceptable practice. “Schools could132

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017provide workshops for parents that focus on the range of cheating issues adolescents face andoffer agenda questions for discussions at home about honesty, integrity, trust and maturity. In
this way, mothers and fathers would be enlisted to sustain their efforts to nurture these valuable
attributes in their children. Successful academic performance rooted in honesty enables
students to take pride in work that is their own and to make known when tutoring is needed to
improve learning (Teixeira & Rocha, 2010).
Recommendations
This paper similarly recommends ways of abating cheating in the long run. These are thefollowing:
1. Educators should use positive reinforcement and encouraging the students to acquire a
positive outlook in life that will prevent them from cheating (Mccabe et al., 2002).
2. Teachers can reduce the tendency to cheat by involving students in interesting
assignments that are more engaging and relevant to the students themselves (Renard,
2000; Ma et al., 2008).
3. Teachers, as facilitators of learning, should help their students to learn how to summarize
and rephrase in their own words. Being fluent at writing is possibly the best way of
inhibiting cheating (Dick, Sheard, & Hasen, 2008).
4. Teachers should aim for a “zero tolerance” approach with regard to cheating andplagiarism in their academic environment (Wilson & Ippolito, 2008). In order to beconsistent and to reach the so-called zero tolerance towards cheating during examinations,teachers should make clear the acceptable and unacceptable behavior of the students atthe very beginning of the year, stick to it as far as possible, and frequently remind thestudents of it.
5. Subject teachers should also make sure their students correctly understand the terms andconditions of the subject by discussing them in class if necessary. They should let thestudents know that teachers are available at any time to help them with their academic
problems and doubts (Badia, Cladellas, & Clariana, 2013).
6. Teachers should make it clear to students that resisting temptation to cheat during
examinations boosts and builds high self-esteem and self-respect. Students with higher
levels of self-confidence were less likely to engage in academic misconduct (Hulsart &McCarthy, 2009).
Acknowledgements
Thanks to God, Jesus Christ, who gave the gift of life and purpose in this academic undertaking.
The author also thanks his wife Zaila, Princess and Prince (my daughter and son), who served
as my inspiration in pursuing this study. Special thanks to Joel N. Gulane PhD, School
Principal, Conchita A. Dacillo, Head Teacher V, Senior High School Focal Person, MeriamMosaso, Research and Science Head Teacher V, Rafaelita F. Rodriguez, English and Social
Studies Head Teacher V, Maribeth Adier, Senior High School lead adviser. Moreover, I would
like to thank Hon. Maria Angela V. Sabando, Mayor in Municipality of Roxas, and my sisterand my brother, Leah Ray Rapunzel Diego and Roy Roland Diego, for funding of myregistration fee.
A previous version of this article was included in the proceedings of The IAFOR International
Conference on Education 2017: Diego, L. (2017). Friends with Benefits: Causes and Effects ofLearners’ Cheating Practices During Examination. The International Conference on Education

133

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 20172017, Dubai, UAE. February 26–28, 2017. Proceedings, pp. 63–78. ISSN: 2189-1036.
http://papers.iafor.org/papers/iicedubai2017/IICEDubai2017_34786.pdf

134

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

References
Aaron, L., & Roche, C. (2013). Stemming the Tide of Academic Dishonesty in Higher
Education: It takes a village. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 42(2), 161–
196. https://doi.org/10.2190/ET.42.2.h
Ahmadi, A. (2012). Cheating on Exams in the Iranian EFL context. J. Acad. Ethics, 10(8) 151–
170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-012-9156-5
Badia, M., Cladellas, M., & Clariana, R. (2013). Academic Cheating and Gender Differencesin Barcelona (Spain). Summa Psicologica UST 2013,10(1), 65–72.
Baker, R. K., Berry, P., & Thornton, B. (2008). Student Attitudes on Academic Integrity
Violations. Journal of College Teaching & Learning, 5(1), 9.
Berhan, A., & Desalegn, A. A. (2014). Cheating on Examinations and Its Predictors among
Undergraduate Students. Paper presented at Hawassa University College of Medicine
and Health Science, Hawassa, Ethiopia. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-14-89
Blachnio, A., & Weremko, M. (2011). Academic cheating is contagious: The influence of thepresence of others on honesty. A Study Report. International Journal of Applied
Psychology, 1, 14–19. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.ijap.20110101.02
Corpuz, B. B., & Lucas, M. D. (2011). Facilitating Learning: A Metacognitive Process (2nded.). Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing.
Dick, M., Sheard, J., & Hasen, M. (2008). Prevention is better than cure: Addressing cheating
and plagisrism based on the IT student perspective. In T. S. Roberts (Ed.) Student
plagiarism in an online world. Problems and solutions (pp. 160–183), Hershey, New
York. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-59904-801-7.ch011
Fields, M. U. (2003). The influence of psychological type, self-esteem, and gender on academic
dishonesty of students on higher education. Dissertation Abstracts International, Section
A: Humanities & Social Sciences, 64, 3-A. Retrieved on January 17, 2017 fromhttp://search.proquest.com/docview/1238015781
Hulsart, R., & McCarthy, V. (2009). Educators’ role in promoting academic integrity. Academyof Educational Leadership Journal, 13(4), 49-60.
Jones, D. (2011). Academic dishonesty: Are more students cheating? BusinessCommunications Quarterly, 74(2), 141-150. https://doi.org/10.1177/1080569911404059
Jordan, A. E. (2001). College student cheating: the role of motivation, perceived norms,
attitudes and knowledge of institutional policy. Ethics and Behaviour, 11(3), 233–247.
https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327019EB1103_3
King, D., & Case, J. (2014). E-cheating: Incidence and trends among college students. Issues
in Information Systems, 15(1), 20–27.
Kwong, T, Hing-Man, N., &Wong, E. (2010). Students’ and faculty’s perception of academic
integrity in Hong Kong, Campus-Wide Information Systems, 27(5), 341–355.
https://doi.org/10.1108/10650741011087766
Ma, H., Lu, Y., Turner, S., & Wan, G. (2006). An empirical investigation of digital cheating
and plagiarism among middle school students. American Secondary Education,
35(2), 69–82.

135

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Ma, H.J., Wan, G., & Lu, E.Y. (2008). Digital cheating and plagiarism in schools. Theory andPractice, 47(2), 197–203. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405840802153809
Manar, H., & Shameem, F. (2014). Attitude of students towards cheating and plagiarism:
University Case Study. Journal of Applied Sciences, 14(3), 748–757.
McCabe, D. L., Trevino, L. K., Butterfield, K. D. (2001). Cheating in academic institutions: A
decadeofresearch.
Ethics&Behavior,
11(3),
219–232.
https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327019EB1103_2
McCabe, D. L., Trevino, L. K., & Butterfield, K. D. (2002). Honor codes and other contextual
influences on academic integrity: A replication and extension to modified honor code
settings. Researchinhigher
Education, 43(3),357–378.
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014893102151
McCabe, D., Butterfield, K., & Treviño, L. (2012). Cheating in college: Why students do it andwhat educators can do about it. Baltimore, MD: The John Hopkins University Press.
McGregor, J., & Stuebs, M. (2012). To cheat or not to cheat: Rationalizing academic
impropriety. Accounting Education: An International Journal, 21(3), 265–287.
Northumbria University (2013). Assessment regulations for Northumbria awards. Retrieved 13
July, 2017 from http://northumbria.ac.uk/static/worddocuments/arna.doc
Razera, G., Verhagen, H., Pargman, T.C., & Ramsberg, R. (2010). Plagiarism awareness,
perception, and attitude among students and teachers in Swedish higher education – acase study. Paper presented at the 4th International Plagiarism Conference – Towards
an authentic future. Northumbria University in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, 21–23 June.
Rettinger, D. A., & Kramer, Y. (2009). Situation and personal causes of student cheating.
Research in Higher Education, 50(7), 293–313. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-0089116-5
Sarita, R. D. (2015). Academic cheating among students: Pressure of Parents and Teachers.
International Journal of Applied Research 2015, 1(10), 793–797.
Sommers, C. H., & Satel, S. (2005). One nation under therapy: How the helping culture iseroding self-reliance, New York: St Martin's. Stearns, S. A. (2001). The studentinstructor relationship’s effect on academic integrity. Ethics and Behavior, 11(3), 275–
286.
Strom, P. S., & Strom, R. D. (2007). Cheating in middle school and high school. The
Educational Forum, 71(4), 104–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131720708984924
Taradi, S. K., Taradi, M., & Dogaš, Z. (2012). Croatian medical students see academic
dishonesty as an acceptable behavior: A cross-sectional multicampus study.
http://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2011-100015
Taylor, L., Pogrebin, M., & Dodge, M. (2002). Advanced placement advanced pressures:
academic dishonesty among elite high school students. Educational Studies, 33(5), 403421.
Teixeira, A. A., & Rocha, M. F. (2010). Cheating by economics and business undergraduate
students: an exploratory international assessment. Higher Education, 59(6), 663–701.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-009-9274-1

136

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Wilkinson, J. (2009). Staff and student perceptions of plagiarism and cheating. International
Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 20(2), 98–105.
Wilson, F., & Ippolito, K. (2008). Working together to educate students. In Roberts, T. S.
(2008). Student plagiarism in an online world. Problems and solutions (pp. 60–75),
Hershey, New York. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-59904-801-7.ch005
Corresponding author: Leo Andrew B. Diego
Contact Email: leandrojigz01@gmail.com

137

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Appendix
Informed Consent Form
The open-ended questions to be asked are in line with the research topic: Friends with Benefits:
Causes and Effects of Cheating Practices During Examination, which will be conducted by
Leo Andrew Diego, Senior High School teacher for this action research. The main objective of
this research is to find out the factors why students copy other learner’s answers on their exams
in order to adapt plausible solutions to be done after knowing the problem. Your answers, realname and identity are confidential, meaning to say, it will not be shared to others. Your fullcooperation in this meaningful endeavor is highly appreciated.
Codename:_____________________________
Year Level:_______________
Age: __________________________________
Qualitative Questionnaire
Objectives
To identify reasons why students copy otherlearner’s answer during examinations.

ØØTo determine the ways by which students Øcopy other learner’s answers
Analyze the effects of copying other Ølearner’s answers in personal and social
identityØØ
Identify interventions that need to be Ø
maintained, formulated and implemented, torespond on this issue.
Ø
Ø

138

Interview Questions
What made you engage in cheating
activites during examinations?
What are your aspirations in doing
whatever it takes to pass the subject even
if it means copying other learner’s
answers?
What are the ways in which you cheat
during exam?
How affected are you when you cheat
during exam?
What do you think are the personal
effects of cheating during exam?
What are the ways in which you can stop
copying other learner’s answers during
examinations?
What are the cheating policies ofteachers in the classroom during
examination to avoid cheating activities?
What do you think are the disciplinary
measures given by teachers on this issueof cheaning?
What are the interventions being done byteachers for those learners who are slow
in learning?

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017139

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017140

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Self-Efficacy Reduces Impediments to Classroom Discussion forInternational Students: Fear, Embarrassment, Social Isolation, Judgment,
and Discrimination

Junko Maeda
Hachinohe Institute of Technology, Japan141

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Abstract
Approximately one million international students were enrolled at U.S. universities in theacademic year 2015–2016, and the number has been steadily rising since. Although thesestudents aim to increase intercultural communication skills, international knowledge, andcritical thinking skills, some international students experience difficulty participating in classdiscussion. Several studies have revealed a range of obstacles to full participation in in-classdiscussions, including language, cultural differences, academic differences, and social
isolation. Among these barriers, some studies have identified emotional factors thatsignificantly affect learning. This study was an in-depth exploration of the adverse emotional
factors that impede discussion participation. Using a qualitative approach, twenty-threeinternational students at one university were interviewed, and their responses analyzed.
Students reported that fear, embarrassment, social isolation, judgment and discrimination werebarriers to participation. These findings are discussed in the context of a framework forreducing negative emotional states, employing self-efficacy theory. This framework wasapplied to the interview results and the author’s observation of international students’ behavior
in dormitories and university offices. These findings suggest a possible intervention approachfor educators to help international students express themselves in the classroom.
Keywords: international students; classroom discussion; negative emotions; self-efficacy
theory; educators’ intervention.

142

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Introduction
Approximately one million international students were enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher
education in the academic year 2015–2016 (Education USA, 2016). International students
typically aim to increase their intercultural communication skills, global knowledge, andcritical thinking skills through discussion and international education (Urban & Palmer, 2014).
In U.S. classrooms, international students provide a number of benefits, including: (a)increasing the diversity in educational settings, and (b) contributing new perspectives todiscussions in the classrooms (Lee & Rice, 2007). Class discussion is considered one of thebest ways to foster educational growth, because individuals can enhance their ideas throughcollaboration with others. This exposure heightens mutual understanding and motivates
students to continue learning. Educators can harness pedagogical discussion techniques indiverse classrooms (Brookfield, & Preskill, 2012). In addition, from an economic viewpoint,international students contributed $35.8 billion to the U.S. economy in the academic year
2015–2016 (Institute of International Education, 2015).
While the internationalization of American higher education institutions is mutually beneficial
for international students and domestic students, some international students face a number ofcommunication/discussion problems. Lobo and Gurney (2014) reported that while international
students’ expectations of course components and teaching materials were largely met within
U.S. universities, many international students struggled with an expectation of in-classdiscussion in increasingly multicultural classrooms. Specifically, a large number ofinternational students were reported to be unable to contribute in communication-related
activities. One study reported that some international students may not be accustomed to inclass participation, and may be used to more teacher-centered classroom environments in theirhome countries (Karuppan & Barari, 2011). Educators are often apprehensive about thesestudents’ lower levels of class participation and the effect on their learning (Kim, 2012). Some
researchers have attempted to identify the causes of international students’ infrequent
communication within intercultural classrooms, finding that they commonly encounter culturaladjustment, social isolation, and academic challenges including communication withprofessors, classmates, and staff, as well as confronting culturally different ways of thinking
and doing in the US (Wu, Garza, & Guzman, 2015).
Much of the research on international students has examined cultural differences or differencesin learning styles between domestic and international students (Welikala, 2015). To expand theexisting literature on international students’ in-class discussion, the present study focuses on
negative emotional factors as impediments to participation in discussion. Negative emotions
such as fear of making language mistakes can erode individuals’ abilities to make decisions(Kligyte, Connelly, Thiel, & Devenport, 2013). Weisfeld (2014) reported that individuals
sometimes respond uncomfortably or inappropriately when another person commits a minor
linguistic mistake; consequently, embarrassment is often created and exacerbated by others’
laughter or smiling. This emotional agitation is associated with negative impacts on self-esteem.
The current study used a qualitative approach, interviewing 23 international students at one
university and analyzing their responses. In-depth emotional factors were predicted to function
as impediments to discussion participation. If adverse emotional factors negatively impact oninternational students’ classroom discussion, there may be a need to reduce the levels of these
emotions. Employing self-efficacy theory as a theoretical lens may be useful for reducing
impediments and improving expressiveness. Thus, the current study sought to discern which

143

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

adverse emotional factors are impediments for international students to participate in classroom
discussion, and to find a way to reduce their impact.
Literature Review
U.S. classrooms include students from a variety of backgrounds in both culture and language.
However, it has been observed that most international students exhibit a lack of participationin class discussion, with adverse impacts on their academic performance (Kim, 2012).
International students in the U.S. face cultural adjustment, social isolation, and academic
challenges, including communication with professors and classmates (Wu, Garza, & Guzman,2015). International students with a lower level of English proficiency often experience
difficulties in class participation. In addition, international students often struggle with culturaldifferences, including social expectations of interaction, educational values, and teachercentered pedagogies (Bista, 2012). Moreover, some international students spend more than 5hours per day studying. This tendency to perfectionism can result in creating an unbalanced
environment in which to learn. If perfectionism is channeled in a healthy and positive way, thestudent can feel fulfillment in learning. However, maladaptive perfectionism can create
problematic situations, including constant concerns about making mistakes, and self-doubt inlearning and the associated perceived expectations (Hamamura & Laird, 2014).
Fear and embarrassment have been found to contribute to international students’ reticence toengage in in-class discussion. Typical fears of international students include making mistakes,
experiencing shame, and uncertainty. Previous research demonstrated that the fear of making
language mistakes was most related to overall fears of failure for international students (Conroy,2004). A major drawback of the fear of making mistakes is that fearful emotions erode
individuals’ ability to make decisions, and fear of making language mistakes can impede
individuals’ thoughts and actions (Kligyte et al., 2013). The fear of failure generates shame andembarrassment and involves feelings of inability (Sagar & Stoeber, 2009). Weisfeld (2014)
found that some individuals responded uncomfortably or inappropriately when another person
committed a minor or unusual linguistic mistake; subsequently, embarrassment was often
created and exacerbated by others’ laughter or smiling. This emotional perturbation included
negative self-respect and was sometimes accompanied by a slumped posture, gaze avoidance,and blushing. Meanwhile, Uphill, Groom, and Jones (2014) reported that among the emotionsof anger, apprehensiveness, embarrassment, and happiness, embarrassment significantly
predicted increased unsuccessful involvement.
International students commonly have perceptions of social isolation and discrimination.
Social isolation is derived from the perception of a person as an outsider. A segment ofdomestic students perceive individuals as “others” or members of an outgroup, or, alternatively,
a sequence of overlapping outgroups based on features such as nationality, their status assecond language speakers, cultural framework, and work orientation. The “other” is related to
the label “international student” (Harrison & Peacock, 2010). Although international students
provide substantial benefits to universities, a considerable number of international students
experience prejudice and discrimination from American classmates (Charles-Toussaint &Crowson, 2010). Wadsworth, Hecht, and Jung (2008) described how discrimination negativelytransforms international students’ learning experiences in an educational environment.
American students may have a bias towards international students regarding English skills,
which can be interpreted as discrimination against international students. International students’discriminatory experiences symbolize a rejection by others, which may intensify theirperception of being considered an outsider who is unwanted by others (Wang, Wong, & Chu-

144

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

chun, 2012). Moreover, because international students who perceive discrimination from theirclassmates tend to have detrimental outcomes, their educational dissatisfaction may be one of
the adverse consequences (Wadsworth, Hecht, & Jung, 2008).
Self-efficacy theory may be a useful framework for developing approaches to reduce negative
emotions, by elevating self-efficacy. According to self-efficacy theory, the perception ofefficacy is influenced by four factors: (1) experience of mastery that has led to prior successes
can raise self-efficacy, because people are more likely to believe they can succeed at new tasks,(2) vicarious experience, observing someone who is similar to themselves successfully
achieving something, (3) verbal persuasion and encouragement by others to increase theconfidence that they can accomplish tasks, and (4) somatic and emotional states involving
stress, anxiety, and fear can adversely affect self-efficacy, and can cause failure or inability; incontrast, relaxation techniques and positive self-talk can reduce negative emotional states(Bandura, 1994).
Applying the above four factors in a classroom setting, educators can help international
students express themselves by providing them with clear opportunities. This can increase thelikelihood of a successful experience, which can induce subsequent success. When an educator
uses verbal persuasion and praises an international student’s expressiveness, they may feel
more confident in classroom discussion. When an international student observes otherinternational students’ learning achievements, they may have a positive perception of their own
ability to accomplish the same work. When an international student is able to overcome initialadverse emotional factors and develop a positive mindset, other international students facing
negative emotional factors may be encouraged to develop similarly positive mindsets.
Based on the literature reviewed above, the present study investigated the emotional factors
impeding international students’ participation in the classroom. These theoretical foundations
suggest that international students may be able to raise their efficacy and overcome adverse
emotions, and that educators may be able to help reduce the negative impact of these factors
by assisting international students using self-efficacy theory.
Methods
Participants
The target participants were international students at a U.S. university. In line with Creswell(2013), in the current study, international students of various ages, nationalities, and genders
were recruited, as well as those with different length of time at the institution. There were no
restrictions based on race and gender in the sampling. However, participants were required to
be international students who used English as a second language. I conducted 23 individualinterviews with volunteers from 15 different countries in the library of the university. The 15
countries included: Brazil and Venezuela in South America; Mexico in Central America; Haiti
in the West Indian Islands; Vietnam, Korea, Sri Lanka, Japan, Nepal and Malaysia in Asia;
Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan in the Middle East; and Macedonia, Spain and Germany in Europe.
Four Saudi Arabian students, three Japanese students, two Venezuelan students, two German
students, and two Brazilian students volunteered to take part in the study. Thus, five countries
in the sample were represented by more than one participant. For the remaining 10 countries,
one student from each country took part (See Appendix).

145

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

The recruiting processes followed four phases in a 3-month period from October to December
2014. The four phases included: (a) random samples via email in which every member ofinternational students has an equal opportunity to be interviewed for participation in the study(Baxter & Babbie, 2004); (b) flyers delivered to locations in which international students
gathered, such as the university dormitory and a university office; (c) personal contact withpotential participants within courses, and assistance from the university faculty to identify
potential participants, and (d) the offer of a participation incentive by providing a cup of coffee
for interviewees.
In qualitative methods, researchers collect data until saturation has been attained. According to
Baxter and Babbie (2004, p. 319), “Saturation means that you have reached the point where
your data are repetitive. Saturation occurs when additional data do not add additional insights”.
In many types of quantitative research, theoretical saturation is considered to occur with around
20–25 interviewees (Creswell, 2013). In the present study, 23 individual interviews wereconducted, producing 421 double-spaced pages of transcripts.
Data Collection
International students volunteered via email to participate in this project. Each participant wassent an Excel table in which the date and time inputs were set up so that they could insert checkmarks in the boxes to indicate the times at which they were available to be interviewed. At thebottom of the Excel table, participants were instructed to report their gender, nationality, thelength of time learning at the university, and major. The interviews were scheduled, andconfirmation of the scheduled date, time, and place was emailed to each participant. Theinterviews began on October 5 and ended on December 23, 2014.
Before the interviews, informed consent was obtained, and participants were instructed thatthey could withdraw at any time and that their confidentiality would be secured, based on theInstitutional Review Board guidelines. Audio was recorded during the interviews, and therecordings ranged from 30 to 73 minutes in duration. Each interview was transcribed verbatim.
International students’ behavior and conversations were observed at the “Cultural Day Parties”
held at the university dormitory (three times), at the President’s Open House (once), and at aparty for international students held at a university office (once). Notes about students’behaviors and conversations were recorded in a notebook.
Qualitative Method
In the interviews, it was important to establish relationships with international students, toenable understanding of implicit and explicit meanings in each participant’s responses andbehaviors. A qualitative approach enables researchers to comprehend the meanings and actionsof each participant by focusing attention on their communicative acts (Creswell, 2013).
Interpretive and inductive approaches allow researchers to study the intentions, meanings, andactions of the participants directly from the data, rather than from predetermined hypotheses(Charmaz, 2005). For these reasons, a qualitative approach was selected as the preferred
methodology in the current study, and semi-structured interviews were employed. Following
the method described by Baxter and Babbie (2004), the semi-structured interview consisted ofa list of open-ended questions. The use of open-ended questions encouraged interviewees to
use their own words, and provided freedom to the interviewer in terms of order and the use ofalternative language. Semi-structured interviews have two major benefits. First, researchers

146

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

can focus on gaps in information. Second, researchers can compare participants’ responses anddiscern common themes in their conversations by summarizing the frequencies of their
responses. In the current study, semi-structured interviews provided a way of comparing
interviewees’ responses and commonalities, enabling emerging themes to be identified.
Coding and Data Analysis
To analyze the transcribed interviews, I conducted analysis of the qualitative data, according
to Chamaz’s (2005) coding method: (1) in vivo coding, (2) sub-focus coding, and (3) focus
coding. In the in vivo coding, I checked and circled the words line by line that I interpreted as
obstacles to expression, referring to the in vivo codes. After choosing the in vivo codes of the
23 interview transcripts, all of the codes were input into the Excel table, which totaled 85 invivo codes.
In vivo coding involves naming each data in line, enabling researchers to consider the datafrom a range of perspectives that may differ from participants’ interpretations. In sub-focus
coding, I organized similar in vivo codes together, classified them in the Excel worksheet, andnamed subthemes, such as social isolation, shallow expression, or discrimination. The
subthemes amounted to 39 items. Subsequently, I analyzed the 39 subthemes, focus-coded
them into an over-arching theme, “Emotional Factors.” Following this procedure, I reduced 39
subthemes into three. The components of the themes were fear, embarrassment, social
isolation/judgmental discrimination, which represented in-depth emotional factors. Figure 1
illustrates the layers of the codes. Data analysis in qualitative research typically utilizes three
analysis strategies: preparing and organizing data, reducing the data into themes through aprocess of coding and condensing the codes, and finally representing the data in figures, tables,
or a discussion (Creswell, 2013). The present study used these three recommended qualitative
data analysis strategies.

Figure 1: Codes representing emotional factors of less expressiveness.

147

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Fear
Participants reported that they were often embarrassed and fearful of making language mistakes
or giving responses that are beside the point. They reported being embarrassed when they mademistakes, as other students often reacted by laughing, even if the laughter was not meanspirited. This mix of embarrassment and fear resulted in students keeping to themselves,
reducing expressiveness, and evading social interaction with their classmates. All participants
except one expressed emotions of fear and embarrassment.
James mentioned the fear of making mistakes in front of his classmates, such as giving a wrong
answer, and a mixture of feelings about being an outsider. Because he did not want to give an
incorrect answer resulting in his classmates laughing at his linguistic mistakes, he kept quiet.
Moreover, he felt that his classmates should understand that he came from a different country
and may face language challenges.
Making language mistakes is the biggest problem. I am scared of saying something
in the classroom. I want to say the right thing. I don’t want them to laugh at mylanguage mistakes… I am the only international student, an outsider, and the others
are all local students, so I want to tell the right thing so that they can understand me.
I don’t want to be a wrong person or a wrongly answered person… They should
understand that I am coming from a different culture from a different part of theworld where accent is obviously different and the writing is going to be different as
well. (James)
James made this statement with a disappointing facial expression and a low tone of voice.
However, when James was talking about his classmates’ laughter at his language mistakes, heraised his voice. When he stated that he wanted his classmates to understand that he is fromanother country, I sensed his strong desire for his classmates to empathize with his
circumstances within the classroom.
Kate also described a sense of frightfulness during group discussion, because her classmatescorrected her language mistakes, although she felt her English was not bad. Over time, Kateentered contexts in which she was frightened that she would not understand what herclassmates were discussing. Kate’s fear was increased when her classmates corrected her
mistakes. In the interview, Kate initially spoke English quickly, then began speaking evenfaster about this fearful situation, with more gesturing. This behavior revealed Kate’s strong
emotional experience of fear, reduced confidence, and sadness. Another participant, Ariel, felt
a strong sense of fear/embarrassment of being laughed at after giving a wrong answer, which
made her lose confidence in herself. In the first semester, Ariel was highly motivated, but
gradually became disappointed and remained silent within the classroom. Ariel looked
exasperated then discouraged when she was describing her classmates laughing at her language
mistakes.
Embarrassment
Jordan mentioned that he was laughed at for his accent or incorrect answers, and began to avoid
participating in class discussion.
I never ever raised my hand and said anything in class because I got embarrassedof my accent so saying something wrong. In my first semester at the university, I

148

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

was doing presentation and then I said a word different and my classmates laughed.
It was so embarrassing. So after that, I was like, not raising my hand and didn’t say
anything at all in discussion because if I say something, everyone laughs again. But
with time it gets better. At the time, I was really embarrassed because I didn’t really
understand why they were laughing. (Jordan)
Although he reported that the situation was improving, Jordan shrugged his shoulders andlooked down. This behavior appeared to suggest that Jordan was not able to find any solutions
that he was satisfied with. In the interview, Jordan was passionately speaking in a high pitch,emphasizing his emotional appeal regarding his classmates laughing at his accent or incorrect
answer. His use of the term “everyone” in the phrase “…if I say something, everyone laughs
again” was indicative of his experience of social isolation.
Roy reported losing confidence speaking English in class discussion, because every time hespoke English he made language mistakes. Roy did not want to be embarrassed within theclassroom. Professors did not ask for Roy’s opinions, so Roy said that he did not have any
experience in the classroom. The professors realized that Roy did not want to be embarrassedin the classroom, which led the professors to be hesitant to ask him to express his opinions.
Roy described this context with a negative facial expression, and expressed that he was alone
in the classroom. Meanwhile, Meryl reported that her classmates proceeded with the discussion
at a very fast pace, so she asked them to explain the content of the conversation. Her classmates,
however, explained very quickly, in a way that was still difficult for her to understand. Meryl
was very embarrassed, and felt lost. Finally, Meryl said that her classmates were not able tounderstand the extent to which she was not able to understand them, implying that she desiredfor her classmates to understand her circumstances.
Perceptions of Social Isolation/Judgmental Discrimination
Participants expressed that they were eager to share opinions through fruitful discussion. Somestudents, however, perceived judgment and discrimination by domestic classmates, especiallytoward their English skills. Such perception of judgment and discrimination led to international
students’ dissatisfaction with their learning.
Tom felt that his classmates were judgmental when he asked questions within the classroom,and he recognized their judgmental facial expressions. Subsequently, Tom avoided speaking
up within the classroom.
Some students can be very judgmental to my talking, my accent. They think why I
am asking to them. I see some students can be very judgmental when I ask questions,like American students really do. They look at me like, I’m damn, I don’t know. So,
I don't ask in the classroom. His or her facial expressions can tell obviously, and it's
not that hard to tell if somebody's judgmental. (Tom)In the interview, Tom seemed to let off his emotions, articulately describing his classmates’
judgment, and blaming them in a sharp tone. Tom’s behavior implied the current state of his
reduced expression and sense of social isolation within the classroom. The last sentence “You
can tell obviously, it's not that hard to tell if somebody’s judgmental.” emphasized his feelingsof social isolation derived from his classmates’ inappropriate responses.

149

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Demi reported that her classmates judged her because she made mistakes when expressing
herself in English. Consequently, Demi had a strong fear of her classmates’ judgment when
she expressed her opinions. Demi said she was nervous, unable to open her mouth, and felt
completely paralyzed. Demi reported she did not speak English because her classmates would
judge her English skills. She continued to explain that English was not her first language andit was natural to make language mistakes. Given that Demi is generally a student with a cheerful
sprit, and that she did not have any difficulty expressing herself in her country, her reticenceindicated how strongly she perceived judgment from her classmates. In the meantime, Ariel
felt a strong perception that she was a foreigner after she gave an off-topic response and waslaughed at by her classmates. Ariel did not want to be in this situation, and kept silent in theclassroom. Ariel said she was the only international student and non-citizen in her class, anddescribed her negative perception that her classmates viewed her as a target in the classroom.
In the interview, Ariel articulately spoke in a loud voice, sometimes in a dispirited tone of voice,and her perception of being the only international student was accompanied by sighing. Her
behavior and negative facial expressions indicated that she felt she could not do anything otherthan remain silent in the classroom.
In summary, some international students felt social isolation and avoided communication.
These obstacles have serious negative impacts on communication for international students.
The themes underlying these perceptions influenced their expression within the classroom.
Moreover, the results indicated that international students experienced fear, embarrassment,
perception of social isolation and discrimination in classroom discussions at a tertiary
education institute, even though they enrolled because of a desire to learn critical thinking andinternational communication skills through classroom discussions.
Experience of Mastery and Verbal Encouragement from Professors and Classmates
Some international students continued to hold adverse emotions and became increasingly
reticent within the classroom, even though some had attended the university for 3 or 4 years.
On the other hand, a small percentage of the participants came to embrace positive states ofmind over time. This change directed them toward holding more efficacious mindsets,
providing confidence in expressing themselves and generating perceptions of fulfillment andenjoyment about participating in discussions. Some students reported a range of successful
experiences, as described below.
Susan was initially silent in the classroom, and completely avoided speaking. She had strong
opinions and wanted to express herself but felt that she did not have an adequate vocabulary
and was afraid to speak up. However, when she had an opportunity to give a presentation about
her country’s traditions, food, how people spend their vacations, and how people greet eachother, her classmates became interested in her culture. Susan discussed her culture with herclassmates, and they provided feedback and discussion. She was able to see on her classmates’
faces that they were enjoying her presentation. Even if Susan was unable to find the correct
word during the discussion, she would attempt to find another similar word. This change in her
emotional state increased her confidence.
When Donald answered a question in the classroom, he saw that most of his classmates did notunderstand what he was trying to say, which at first made him greatly embarrassed. He felt
further embarrassment when attempting to answer subsequent questions. However, he learned
that his professor enjoyed having international students in the class when the professor told theclass that international students were able to provide new perspectives and different ideas to150

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

those of American students. Subsequently, Donald began to feel that his contributions could
improve classroom discussion. One day, Donald’s professor asked the class about a project thatwould plan to make more parking lots. Most of the American classmates said that they would
create more parking lots in various locations. In contrast, Donald said that people could better
utilize public transportation instead of using cars, thus using parking lots less often, which
could lead to more free parking spaces. Donald’s opinion was highly appraised by his professor
and classmates.
Ashton took a drawing class, in which each student presented their drawing. The other students
asked each presenter questions about their drawing, such as the intention behind the drawing,
and what was implied by each color. After the question and answer session, the class had acritique hour, regarding design, color, lines, images, and implications. Ashton was extremely
nervous thinking about how his teacher and the other students would evaluate his work.
Moreover, Ashton was afraid of speaking English, because he wondered whether he would be
able to answer their questions and convey what he wanted to express. These feelings often
occurred during class discussion. In one class, Ashton had already written notes about his
critique at his apartment beforehand. Ashton presented the critique, based on his writing. He
described the relationships between color and emotion in his work, noticing that someclassmates nodded their heads and seemed to deeply understand his critique. Ashton felt that
he was able to express what he intended to convey about the meaning of his drawing, and it
was easy for others to understand him when he wrote about the meaning of his work beforehand.
Encouragement by Other International Students’ Vicarious Experiences
The International Program Office at the university provides opportunities for international
students to gather, such as in the President’s House, university dormitories, and a university
office. This encourages international students to exchange information about academic learningand adjustment to life in the U.S. The author visited these locations, to observe international
students’ behaviors, and listen to conversations among them. International students were highly
talkative and responsive, regardless of differences in nationality. At an event called the“Cultural Day Party” held for domestic and international students at the dormitory, students
were even more open-minded and socially interactive, educating each other about their cultures,
education, sightseeing spots, and food through a presentation by a representative of eachcountry. Recognizing others’ fulfillment could lead to having vicarious experiences that refers
to learning by observing someone similar to oneself doing successfully. The following
conversations were among those at the dormitory.
Carlos was asked about his government providing money to learn for students to study in the
U.S. Carlos explained that an international student who obtained a grade-point average (GPA)
above 3.5 was eligible to receive financial support. Fortunately, Carlos achieved a GPA of 3.7
each semester, so his government provided $3,000 at the end of each semester. The otherinternational students in the conversation were very interested in the amount of money andCarlos’ achievements, telling him that he obtained superb grades and was from an immensely
affluent country.
Two international students praised Emily’s presentation about her culture. Presentations were
held twice a month as an event at the “Cultural Day Party.” Emily told two international
students about her experience of building confidence giving presentations. At university in herhome country, Emily had given at least 21 presentations per semester. The international
students were excited about her experience, commenting that this was an impressive number

151

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017of presentations, and asking what she had learned as a result. Emily told them that she learned
to always face the audience, and avoided looking at the Power Point slides.
Donald and several international students sitting around him mutually asked and answeredquestions about how they were engaging in their learning. Donald said that he had moreassignments than at university in his home country, but he continued trying his best, and wasachieving good grades. The other students said they managed to complete their assignments,
but it was sometimes difficult to finish every assignment, even with their best efforts. Donald
explained that he scheduled his time for assignments and exams each week. The other students
were very interested in Donald’s methods of learning.
The international students sitting around Carlos, Emily, and Donald were excited and inspiredby their successful learning experiences, expressing admiration and bright facial expressions.
Valuable information about learning situations was exchanged through interactions that were
enlivened by informal and responsive communication.
Although the author did not hear conversation about classroom discussions at these locations,
it was obvious from listeners’ bright facial expressions that the international students withsuccessful experiences heightened the other students’ motivation to learn at the university.
Emotional States
The emotional states of some international students regarding self expression changed fromnegative to positive mindsets over time. These students stopped worrying about their accents,
grammatical mistakes, incorrect responses, and cultural differences. Some expressed the belief
that making language mistakes was natural for international students, and it was important tomake themselves understood. Students expressed that speaking up in the classroom made an
individual confident even if they made language mistakes, and noted that individuals can learn
different perspectives from classroom discussion.
Jordan was initially embarrassed about other students laughing at his accent and incorrect
responses. Over time, Jordan believed that his English would improve, and that this would
happen to everyone. Jordan considered that the most important thing was whether heunderstood his professor and his classmates, and whether they understood what he expressed,
not whether his sentences were grammatically incorrect, or whether his classmates talked about
his accent or inappropriate responses. Although Jordan still had language barriers regarding
pronunciation, grammar, and structure, he did not pay undue attention to them. Jordan assumed
that there would be continuous improvement. Moreover, Jordan felt that it was beneficial toparticipate in discussions and get different perspectives in the classroom.
When Robert expressed himself, he noticed his classmates talking about his accent, but it did
not matter to him. Rather, Robert considered that speaking up about his opinions in classroom
discussions made him confident because he was able to engage in the course, understand it
better, and learn from discussions. With regard to cultural differences, Robert thought that itwas natural for cultures to be different, and he was able to understand the differences.
Julia sometimes misunderstood what her professor asked the class and gave incorrect answers,
which led her to become less expressive in the classroom. Julia, however, considered that shecame to the U.S. to study, and she did not want to lose the opportunity to learn. Unless Julia
participated in discussions and ask questions, she would not be able to learn from the class.

152

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Thus, Julia asked her professor to write the important points on the blackboard so that she could
participate in discussions. Although Julia once considered that cultural differences in
discussions might affect her ability to express herself in the classroom, she believed that, if she
ascribed her self-expression to her culture, she would be less able to achieve as an international
student. Unless Julia stepped beyond her culture, her only option would be to go back to her
country, she said.
Gil did not understand technical terms and had to ask about the meaning of words that wererelatively simple for domestic students, such as “agenda”. In addition, Gil was unable tounderstand what her professor said if they spoke too quickly. Thus, when she first got to theuniversity, Gil was very uncomfortable with her English. She was, however, aware that thisexperience was natural. When Gil misunderstood something, her professor and classmatescorrected her mistakes. However, she thought this happened to everyone. Gil had heard someof her friends commenting that they were sometimes uncomfortable in classrooms because they
did not want to make mistakes in English or be made fun of for their accents. Gil felt thatstudents had those thoughts were because they were afraid to participate in classroom
discussions, and believed they should be able to be more involved in the class and learn fromparticipation. Gil stressed that everyone makes mistakes, even in their own language.
Jordan, Robert, Julia, and Gil enthusiastically described their changed beliefs. Obviously, theirpositive emotional states emerged from their strong desire to absorb different viewpoints andinternational knowledge and from a shared idea that making mistakes is natural. Moreover,they felt strongly that international students came to the U.S. from their countries to learn, andthis should not be disrupted. These changes in their thoughts contributed to their ability toembrace positive emotional states and mindsets.
Discussion
The results revealed several in-depth emotional factors that were impediments to participationin class discussion for international students, which are supported by the literature (Conroy,
2004; Kligyte et al., 2013; Saga & Stober, 2009; Weisfield, 2014; Uphill et al., 2014; Harrison& Peacock, 2010; Wadsworth et al., 2008; Wang et al., 2012): (1) fear of making language
mistakes, (2) embarrassment when an international student was laughed at for their language
mistakes or incorrect responses, and (3) perceptions of social isolation, judgment or
discrimination within the classroom resulting from English language ability, or being the onlyinternational student or non-citizen in a classroom. The literature has provided evidence thatsuch adverse emotional states can contribute to an inability to make decisions, as well as
increasing unsuccessful involvement and educational dissatisfaction (Conroy, 2004; Kligyte etal., 2013; Weisfield, 2014; Uphill et al., 2014; Harrison & Peacock, 2010; Wadsworth et al.,2008; Wang et al., 2012; Charles-Toussaint & Crowson, 2010). The following section
discusses the findings in the context of developing methods for reducing the negative emotional
factors identified above, utilizing self-efficacy theory.
Self-efficacy theory is based on four sources of self-efficacy: (1) mastery experience, (2)vicarious experience, (3) verbal persuasion, and (4) somatic/emotional states. In the current
study, some respondents reported experiences of mastery (e.g., successfully presenting ideas
and opinions about increasing parking lots, educating other about their cultures, and presenting
an analysis of the meanings of colors and lines in a drawing). In these cases, professors
provided or allotted time for international students to present their ideas and opinions.
Simultaneously, their expressiveness was evaluated positively by their professors and153

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017classmates, and, in several cases, the value of international students providing uniqueperspectives was expressed. These types of evaluation and commenting constitute verbal
persuasion.
The observation of international students’ behavior at social events revealed that someinternational students conveyed successful experiences about their learning, such as learning
about delivering good presentations and obtaining good grades, and managing time well in
preparation for exams and assignments. Although vicarious experience typically requires
observation rather than simply hearing about success, learning that someone who is similar to
one’s self has successfully achieved a task, may provide international students with
opportunities to observe other international students’ successful performance. At the university
examined in the current study, a great number of international students attend the “Cultural
Day Party” and exchange information about their learning environments, providing many
opportunities for mutual support and learning.
Research on emotional states has revealed that positive self-talk can reduce adverse emotional
states (Brown, Malouff, & Schutte, 2013). The adverse emotional states of some international
students developed into positive mindsets over time. In some cases, strong beliefs led to achange in thought patterns, derived from the aspiration to absorb different perspectives andinternational knowledge. In addition, a number of students expressed the idea that making
mistakes is normal, and emphasized that the aim of international students was to study criticalthinking and understanding different perspectives.
Self-efficacy theory provides a framework for reducing negative emotional factors, byheightening self-efficacy, which involves strengthening mastery experience, vicarious
experience, verbal persuasion, and somatic/emotional states, by emphasizing international
students’ successful experiences and robust beliefs. Thus, students can generate prior successes
and observe others’ successful performance by exchanging information about learning settings.
This enables students to develop confidence in their expression, spurred by others’ applauseand positive emotional responses.
Conclusions
An increasing number of international students coming to the U.S. struggle to participate inclassroom discussion, even though their intention is to learn critical thinking and obtain
valuable knowledge through discussion. The current study explored the adverse emotional
factors impeding discussion participation among international students. The results revealed
that international students commonly experienced fear, embarrassment, social isolation,
judgment and discrimination. In addition, the study developed a potentially useful approach for
reducing negative emotional states by employing self-efficacy theory and emphasizing masteryexperience, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and somatic/emotional states, followinginternational students’ successful experiences and robust beliefs.
The proposed approach involves an educational intervention, in which educators can help
international students enhance their self-efficacy and reduce adverse emotions. Within theclassroom, educators can provide opportunities for international students to speak up within
the classroom and praise their expressiveness. They can highlight the strong points ofinternational students who have different viewpoints and encourage them to focus on positive
emotional states. A previous study by Brown, Malouff, and Schutte (2013) supports the
proposed methodology. In that study, participants were asked to focus on or imagine one or154

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

more thoughts of a great athlete that were related to the sources of self-efficacy. As a result,participants experienced more positive affect than control group participants (Brown, Malouff& Schutte, 2013).
The current study involved several limitations that should be considered. First, the degree towhich a participant’s personality is extroverted or introverted is related to their expressiveness,and this trait was not examined in the current study. Second, the degree to which participants
were able to describe their feelings in detail in the interview may have been limited by theiruse of English as a second language. Finally, the extent to which participants were able toexpress their true feelings was unclear. These limitations could potentially be addressed byasking participants to answer a simple post-interview questionnaire about their personality
traits, and whether they felt they were able to express each detail they desired to convey in theinterview.
The study leaves a number of questions open for future research. Future studies could compare
the effectiveness of each of the four components of self-efficacy theory. In addition, data could
be collected from a large number of international students from a range of institutions, rather
than from a specific group at one university. Comparisons could be conducted by personality,
gender, country, and length of learning at a university.
In conclusion, the current study explored in-depth emotional factors as impediments toparticipation in classroom discussion for international students at a U.S. university. The results
revealed that international students experienced fear, embarrassment, and perceptions of social
isolation, judgment and discrimination, which led to less expressiveness and reluctance toparticipate. The findings indicated that the four components of self-efficacy theory may be
useful for increasing students’ efficacy and reducing negative emotional states. These results
suggest that educators may be able to assist students in reducing negative emotional factors via
educational intervention.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank the IAFOR editorial team for reviewing her paper, Dr Wes
Durham at University of Southern Indiana, for giving important advice, and the international
student participants for responding to the interview questions. The author would also like tothank the United States National Communication Association for the opportunity to present thefirst version of this study in 2016. The author thanks Benjamin Knight, MSc, from Edanz
Group (www.edanzediting.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.
A previous version of this article was presented at the 102nd US National Communication
Association Annual Convention in Philadelphia (NCA) in 2016: Maeda, J. (2016). Social
Isolation and Communication Avoidance for International Students at University: In-Class
Participation. Communication's Civic Callings, 2016. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,
November 10-13 2016. Presentation for the Methodological Approaches to Research on Civics
in International and Intercultural Communication, p. 91, Participant Index Number, 115305.
https://www.natcom.org

155

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

References
Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V. S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of humanbehavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71–81). New York: Academic Press.
Baxter, L. A., & Babbie, E. R. (2004). The basics of communication research. Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
Bista, K. (2012). Silence in teaching and learning: Perspectives of a Nepalese graduate student.
College Teaching, 60(2), 76–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2011.633943
Brookfield, S. D., & Preskill, S. (2012). Discussion as a way of teaching: Tools and techniques
for democratic classrooms. Hoboken, New Jersey, US, Wiley.
Brown, L. J., Malouff, J. M., & Schutte, N. S. (2013). The effectiveness of a self-efficacy
intervention for helping adolescents cope with sport-competition loss. In Self-efficacy
theory(pp.
23-35).
Retrieved
July
27,
2017
from
from
http://samples.jbpub.com/9781449689742/Chapter2.pdf
Charles-Toussaint, G. C., & Crowson, H. M. (2010). Prejudice against international students:
The role of threat perceptions and authoritarian dispositions in U.S. students. Journal of
Psychology, 144(5), 413–428. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2010.496643
Charmaz, K. (2005). Rethinking methods in psychology. London: Sage Publications.
Conroy, D. E. (2004). The unique psychological meanings of multidimensional fears of failing.
JournalofSport&
Exercise
Psychology,
26(3),
484–491.
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.26.3.484
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five
approaches. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Education USA (2016). International students to the United States. Retrieved July 27, 2017from http://www.fulbright.jp/study/directory/basic.html
Hamamura, T., & Laird, P. G. (2014). The effect of perfectionism and acculturative stress onlevels of depression experienced by east Asian international students. Journal ofMulticultural Counseling and Development, 42, 205–217. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.21611912.2014.00055.x
Harrison, N., & Peacock, N. (2010). Cultural distance, mindfulness, and passive xenophobia:
Using integrated threat theory to explore home higher education students’ perspectives
on internationalization at home.
Institute of International Education (2015). The economic impact of international students.
Retrieved July 27, 2017 from http://www.iie.org/Research-and-Publications/OpenDoors/Data/Economic-Impact-of-International-Students#.V7kMGJiLSUk
Karuppan, C. M., & Barari, M. (2011). Perceived discrimination and international students’learning: an empirical investigation. Journal of Higher Education Policy & Management,
33(1), 67–83. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2011.537013

156

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Kim, E. (2012). An alternative theoretical model: Examining psychosocial identity
development of international students in the United States. College Student Journal,
46(1), 99–113.
Kim, H. N. (2012). Model of blogging structure for intercultural communication environments
in higher education. Interactive Learning Environments, 20(6), 533–546.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2010.539897
Kligyte, V., Connelly, S., Thiel, C., & Devenport, L. (2013). The influence of anger, fear, andemotion regulation on ethical decision making. Human Performance, 26(4), 297–326.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08959285.2013.814655
Lee, J., & Rice, C. (2007). Welcome to America? International student perceptions of
discrimination. Higher Education, 53(3), 381–409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-0054508-3
Lobo, A., & Gurney, L. (2014). What did they expect? Exploring a link between students’
expectations, attendance, and attrition on English language enhancement courses.
JournalofFurther&
Higher
Education,
38(5),
730–754.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2013.817002
Pandit, K. (2007). The importance of international students on our campuses. Yearbook of the
AssociationofPacific
Coast
Geographers,69,
156–159.
https://doi.org/10.1353/pcg.2007.0012
Sagar, S. S., & Stoeber, J. (2009). Perfectionism, fear of failure, and affective responses tosuccess and failure: The central role of fear of experiencing shame and embarrassment.
JournalofSport&
Exercise
Psychology,
31(5),
602–627.
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.31.5.602
Thushari, W. (2015). Universities don’t understand how international students learn. Retrieved
July
27,
2017
from
https://www.theguardian.com/higher-educationnetwork/2015/jul/03/universities-dont-understand-how-international-students-learnh
Uphill, M., Groom, R., & Jones, M. (2014). The influence of in-game emotions on basketballperformance.
European
JournalofSport
Science,14(1),
76–83.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2012.729088
Urban, E. L., & Palmer, L. (2014). International students as a resource for internationalizationof higher education. Journal of Studies in International Education, 18(4), 305–324.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315313511642
Wadsworth, B. C., Hecht, M. L., & Jung, E. (2008). The role of identity gaps, discrimination,
and acculturation in international students’ educational satisfaction in Americanclassrooms.
Communication
Education,
57(1),
64–87.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03634520701668407
Wang, K. T., Wong, Y. J., & Chu-Chun, F. (2012). Moderation effects of perfectionism anddiscrimination on interpersonal factors and suicide ideation. Journal of Counseling
Psychology, 60(3), 367–378. doi:10.1097/a0032551

157

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Weisfeld, G. E., & Weisfeld, M. B. (2014). Does a humorous element characterize
embarrassment? Humor: International Journal of Humor Research, 27(1), 65–85.
https://doi.org/10.1515/humor-2013-0050
Wu, H., Garza, E., & Guzman, N. (2015). International student’s challenge and adjustment tocollege.
Education
Research
International,
ArticleID
202753.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/202753
Corresponding author: Junko Maeda
Email: junkomaeda22@gmail.com

158

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Appendix
Demographic summary of international students

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

Pseudonym

Nationality

Duration(min.)

Female1, male
2

Ariel
Julia
RobertNicole
Evan
Susan
Emily
JordanRoy
DonaldJames
Shelly
Joe
Gil
Lily
Kate
Brad
CarlosHanna
Ashton
Meryl
Tom
Demi

Saudi Arabia
Japan
Haiti
Nepal
Vietnam
Saudi
MexicoVenezuela
Korea
BrazilSri Lanka
Malaysia
Saudi Arabia
Venezuela
Germany
Germany
Macedonia
Saudi Arabia
Spain
Japan
Japan
Afghanistan
Brazil

73
62
54
30
50
58
45
47
65
47
54
52
53
42
55
62
62
73
45
71
60
62
69

1
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
2
1

159

Undergrad 1,
grad 2,
PhD 3
2
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
1

Year
status
3
3
2
1m
1m
2
3m
3
3
1.2
2
3m
2
3
4m
4m
1.5
3
3m
3.5
4m
1

Degreeseeker
1, not 2First
Language

1
2
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
2

ArabicJapanese
CreoleNepalese
Vietnam
ArabicSpanishSpanishKoreanPortuguese
Tamil
Mali
ArabicSpanishGermanGermanMacedonian
ArabicSpanishJapaneseJapanese
PashtuPortuguese

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017160

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Politician-Turned-Doctoral Student’s Narrative Identity at anAustralian University: A Case Study

Singhanat Nomnian
Mahidol University, Thailand

161

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Abstract
This study aims to explore the narrative identity of a politician-turned-doctoral student at anAustralian university with a particular focus on his academic and social encounters based on
his English resources and experiences of learning and living in Australia. This case study is
unique in the way that very few Thai politicians would end their political career and join in an
academic community because of different philosophies underpinning these political andeducational agendas. Drawing upon a narrative inquiry, the 60-year-old former Thai politician
who decided to undertake a PhD in Engineering (Water Resources Management) found hisacademic experience positively challenging as he had to familiarize himself with Australianacademic discourse such as conducting research, writing his thesis, and taking part in classdiscussion. Being a competent user of English, he enjoyed living in a multicultural andmultilingual society in Australia. This study offers an optimistic outlook at career change
through a lens of a politician who became a doctoral student and serves as an example for adults
who are transiting their midlife career path and considering stepping out of their comfort zones
to venture into something new and exciting. This study hopes to shed new light and hopes onadult education in an era of aging society.
Keywords: narrative identity; politician; doctoral student; Australian university; adulteducation.

162

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Introduction
Narratives about a person’s experiences are socially and historically constructed in meanings
that influence his/her choices and decisions to tell his/her stories (Hunter, 2010). Narrative
studies regarding career paths and changes have been much researched for many decades(Bujold, 2004; Cochran, 1990; Cohen et al., 2004; LaPointe, 2010). LaPointe (2010), forinstance, conceptualizes career identity as a practice of identity construction and negotiation in
an individual’s career experiences situated within specific historical, cultural and interactional
contexts through his/her narratives. Adults’ narratives of life transitions in careers canpotentially reflect their personal growth and satisfaction (Bauer & McAdams, 2004). Ibarra(2002) states that socioeconomic and political challenges and uncertainties cause many people
to rethink and possibly decide to change their current careers to meet their personal goals andeconomic needs. In this case study, the career transition undertaken by a Thai participant, aformer politician who decided to undertake a PhD degree at an Australian university, is uniqueand rather under-explored. There are few studies regarding how pursuing a higher degree informal education can provide a transitional platform for adult learners to take up, invest, andgrow within the ‘new’ identities that arise to replace their previous political professions.
Huang (2009) defines a politician as:
Someone who practices politics as his or her professional career. Politicians may
be legislators, party leaders, senior government officials, or members of an elite
cadre in some countries (p. 163).
Key politicians’ personality traits include openness, emotional stability conscientiousness,
agreeableness, and extraversion (Gerber et al., 2011; Weinschenk & Panagopoulos, 2014).
Although political leaders have uniquely different personal characteristics underpinned byindividual leadership, ideology, decision making skills, and intelligence, they are normallychallenged and contested by their political counterparts (Simonton, 2014). As public figures,
politicians therefore have to take their professional risks to overcome their political rivalries
depending on their popularity, dominant parties, and supportive powerful political groups.
According to Kanchoochat and Hewison (2016), Thailand’s political contexts are influencedby:Multiple military interventions, political mudslinging, spates of violence, a‘tradition’ of street protests, and repeated civilian uprisings, usually followed byefforts to lay the foundations of electoral democracy. The political landscape,strewn with discarded constitutions, often seems the preserve of elites doing
political deals in back rooms. In this context, the political institutions that havegreatest longevity are also the sources of conflict. In these bouts of intense politicalcontestation, the key elements of Thailand’s political struggle have been the
military, monarchy, bureaucracy, a powerful capitalist class, a politically active
middle class and repressed subaltern classes. As relatively stable elements in thepolitical landscape, these groups have constantly tussled over conceptions of law,
representation and political space, often in a context of wide-ranging debates about
democracy, constitutions, elections and redistribution (p. 371).
Thailand’s politics has experienced a number of difficult times and hardship throughout its
history. Being a politician in Thailand can be daunting and a career in politics is uncertain and163

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

unsecure. As an adult learner, the participant in this study decided to take a new path byentering into an academic field in order to reconstruct his ‘new’ identity. Osborne et al. (2004)
use the term ‘personal growers’ for mature learners who pursue higher education for their own
satisfaction and desires (p. 291). Ibarra (2002) suggests possible strategies for reinventing one’s
career through acting, reflecting, living the contradictions, experimenting with new roles,
finding people who are what you want to be, stepping back occasionally, and keeping a windowof opportunity open. Addressing an issue of aging population, Yankelovich (2005) notes thathigher education should respond to an increasing number of people from ages 55 to 75 as theyseek to build bridges to new life in order to fulfill personal aspirations and opportunities to givesomething back to society while they are still physically and mentally healthy. Education canthus potentially empower adult learners’ life-long learning and human resource developmentthat can reshape their ways of lives and career paths (Knowles et al., 2015).
This study explores the narratives of a Thai adult doctoral student who decided to shift fromhis political career to the academic field by pursuing a PhD through constructing andnegotiating his identities underpinned by his English resources and prior experiences in various
academic and sociocultural contexts throughout the course of his personal, academic andprofessional trajectories.
Literature Review
The conceptual framework of this study is based on narrative identity. Narrative identity has
long been studied in the field of social sciences and humanities in order to unfold individual’slife stories (Ricoeur, 1991). According to McAdams (2011), narrative identity is a person’sinternalized and evolving life story that integrates the (re)construction of past, present andimagined future of the self to provide life with a certain degree of unity and purpose. Hunter(2010) claims that there is a potential transformation of the participant’s experiences throughthe process of telling one’s narrative as she states that:
This (narrative inquiry) approach placed the focus on ways in which participants
constructed their own narratives about their experiences in relation to others
involved at the time, and in relation to available social and cultural narratives.
Inevitably they had absorbed the socially constructed meanings placed on theirexperiences by others, which influenced the narratives that they chose to tell me (p.
45).
Based on a social constructionist perspective, identity narratives can be viewed as an effective
tool to lessen the tensions and bridge between someone’s past, present, and future beings andbelongings, which offer a way to view identities not only located within particular discourses
and ideologies, but also within narratives (Pavlenko & Blackledge, 2004). A social
constructionist approach of second language identity is dialectical between ‘inner’ and ‘outer’
aspects of the self, involving our own sense of who we are, the ways in which we represent
ourselves, and how we are represented and positioned by others; and that illustrates a complex,
multidimensional construct and that what we see of a person’s identities varies according to
the context (Benson et al., 2013, p. 2).
Identity is significant for this study as the Thai doctoral student constructs and negotiates his
identities in linguistically and culturally diverse academic and social contexts where linguistic
ideologies and unequal power relations are embedded within institutional, local, and sociopolitical contexts. Identities in this study are the results of the Thai doctoral student’s dynamic

164

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017reconstruction of self through time and contexts. Since the participant in this study has shifted
his political identity in Thailand to that of an academic identity as a doctoral student in an
Australian university, his identities can be shifted, decentered, fragmented, and imagined by
new socio-historical tensions on his sense of self.
Identity is viewed as a ‘person’s understanding of who they are’ (reflexive identity), how they
represent their understanding to other people (projected identity), other people’s interpretationsof their representations (recognized identity), who they think they may become in the future(imagined identity), or how these different facets of identity are shaped by culturally embedded
categories and resources (Benson et al., 2013, p. 23). In this study, the Thai doctoral student
not only experiences new academic and social contexts in Australian higher education, but alsointeracts with other people, which are influenced by various variables, i.e. age, gender,
education, occupation, linguistic resources, culture, ethnicity, and social status; and thus
effective communication in multilingual and multicultural Australia requires an awareness andrecognition of the student’s interlocutors, topics of communication, and communicative
settings.
Benson et al. (2013) state that international students will aim to project and achieve recognition
for identities that correspond to their reflexive sense of self, but at the same time we recognizethat they may also want to take the opportunity to be seen as a different person when they use
their second language. For this reason, the term ‘reflexive/imagined identity’ often refers to the‘inner’ aspect of identity that underlies and is potentially modified by the ‘outer’ aspect ofidentity negotiation in second language interaction (Benson et al., 2013). Imagined identity is,in this study, closely linked to the reflexive identity of the Thai doctoral student who aspired
to become an academic instead of returning to be a politician. It can be understood as aconception of who he might become that is overlaid across the conception of who he is now.
Based on Pavlenko and Blackledge (2004, p. 17), imagination plays a crucial role in the processof imaginative production of identity. According to Kanno and Norton (2003):
In imagining ourselves bonded with our fellow compatriots across space and time,
we can feel a sense of community with people we have not yet met, but perhaps
hope to meet one day (p. 241).
In study abroad in particular, imagined identities are linked to goals and expectations, which
can be understood as representations of who the student expects or would like to become in the
study abroad setting. The idea of imagined identities, therefore, adds a layer to ourunderstanding of what he brings to the experience of study abroad.
According to Hoyer and Steyaert (2015), an affective conceptualization of identity dynamics
during times of career change integrates the notion of unconscious desires of workers intransition who may try to balance coherence and ambiguity when constructing a sense of self
through narrative. Pennycook and Otsuji (2015) state that how people get along with theirmultiple linguistic resources in their daily lives, perceive, and talk about their language use not
only describes the ways in which people of different and mixed backgrounds use, play withand negotiate identities through language, but also captures the relations between language use,
objects, and accompanying activities in their interactive spaces.
Drawing upon the theoretical framework of learning and identity within Lave and Wenger’s(1991) communities of practice, learning is social participation where individuals construct

165

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

their shared membership identity through engaging in and contributing to the practices of theirtarget communities. Williams (2010), for instance, suggests career change students need toreconstruct their new professional identity in the context of teacher education by learning andacquiring relevant knowledge and teaching skills to become qualified teachers. According toculture of learning, Cortazzi and Jin (2013), on the other hand, view learning as cultural because
members of different communities have different preferences, expectations, interpretations,values, and beliefs with regard to teaching and learning, particularly in international andmulticultural educational contexts. Bacha and Bahous (2013), for example, suggest that
Lebanese students entering ‘Western’ higher educational cultures in Lebanon encounteredchallenges and difficulties in terms of their use of English, critical thinking, classroom
interaction, and student centeredness, which are different from the Lebanese educational
culture that focuses on memorization, teacher-centeredness, and lecture methods. The conceptsof community of practice and culture of learning are interrelated in this study because the Thai
doctoral student who was a former politician had to develop, acquire necessary academic andEnglish skills, and adjust himself to the culture of Australian academia for his PhD study inorder to gain legitimate membership in the academic and social communities.
Professional identity refers to an individual’s professional self-attributes beliefs, values,
motives, and experiences, which can be underpinned by their sociocultural identity (Slay &Smith, 2010). Professional identity, in higher education in particular, is socially constructed
via the relationship between identity, professional socialization, and the role played by
networks and their impact on identity formation regarding midlife career academics, theemergence of mixed identities, and the development of new professional boundaries within
higher education (Clarke et al., 2013). Abou-El-Kheir (2017), for example, explores theinterconnections between identity, language use and education based on a series of interviews
with a Qatari female professor of English who negotiates her beings and belongings in various
sociocultural factors including religion, family, career, education background, and language
choice between Arabic and English; and thus, the professor has to be aware and balance
between her personal and professional identities that play significant roles in her different
practices.
According to Holstein and Gubrium (2010), narrative identity unfolds the stories of self withregard to one’s everyday practices and experiences leading to the construction of personal andsocial identities. In this study, the Thai doctoral student’s narrative identity regarding his
affiliation with academic and social communities has affected his learning trajectories. Suchcommunities include future relationships that exist in his imagination as well as affiliations
such as nationhood or even transnational communities in which he has daily engagement, andmight even have a stronger impact on his current practices and investment. The transition
process between Thai and Australian academic communities, as well as the mediational role ofsignificant others including supervisors, lecturers, and colleagues in both multilingual andmulticultural settings, has had a significant impact on this particular Thai doctoral student. He
has had to manage linguistically and culturally diverse academic practices in their transitions;and thus, the ways he experiences his learning could potentially affect his practices and identity
construction.
Research Methodology
This paper is based on a larger study on Thai students’ identity in Australian higher education.
The study was approved by the Australian University and Thai University Ethics Committees
on Human Research prior to data collection. Awarded an Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship

166

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Award to conduct the study, the researcher met the participant at an Australian university. The
participant was the main case study of this research due to his unique and interesting
experiences that shifted from the political to academic field when he decided to pursue his PhD
in Engineering with a particular focus on Water Resources Management. Case study is anempirical enquiry exploring a contemporary situation within someone’s real-life context(Cohen et al., 2000; Yin, 2003). It draws upon a qualitative and interpretive paradigm thatprovides personal and subjective accounts illustrating complex and interconnected individual
experiences (Denscombe, 2003; Holliday, 2002).
To keep his identity highly confidential, this study refers to him as the participant who is a 60year-old male. He obtained Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from America. He hadover 30 years of experiences in Thailand politics from being a member of parliament, ministerof various departments including education, justice, agriculture and cooperatives, natural
resources and environment, communication and information technology, to deputy prime
minister. He is currently a PhD student at an Australian university. The researcher became
interested to learn more about the participant’s viewpoints regarding his academic experience
because he is an example of a life-long learner and career changer, and thereby serves as amodel for others.
Semi-structured interview was the primary research tool for data collection in this study.
According to Edwards and Holland (2013), semi-structured interview includes a set of the
primary questions that can explore the interviewee’s emerging views. An interviewer, however,needs to deviate from the interview schedule and probe more deeply with further questions tofollow-up particular responses to gain deeper insights. In this particular paper, the maininterview questions concern the participant’s personal background including education, careers,and current degree, as well as his reasons for studying at an Australian university, expectations,perceived academic and conversational English proficiency, attitudes toward his use of English
with ‘native’ and ‘non-native’ speakers of English, views on supervisors and supervision,
linguistic and academic support by university, perceptions toward teachers and colleagues, andacademic challenges. The interview was conducted in Thai and lasted for one hour. It wasaudio-recorded, transcribed, and translated by the researcher. The transcripts were thenprovided to the participant for validation.
Drawing upon Pavlenko’s (2004) data analytic approach, analyzing personal narratives is not
only based on the content of the stories, but also the sociohistorical contexts in which thenarratives were created and the ideological underpinnings which frame certain story telling.
The participant’s narratives in this study could be regarded as shifting over time, and influenced
by individual and societal views, which allowed me to explore the ways in which he constructeda sense of self through the interview. Based on the interpretive and qualitative researchparadigm, the participants’ construction of meanings in their complex sociocultural contexts isunderstood via interpretation rather than generalization, prediction and control (Usher, 1996).
This Thai doctoral student’s construction and negotiation of his identities while living andstudying in Australia were subsequently revealed and then qualitatively interpreted without
generalizing the findings to other cases.
Findings and Discussion
The findings of this study focus on academic context, social context, and use of English forcommunication emerging from the participant’s narratives revealing his construction andnegotiation of his identities.

167

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Academic Context
The participant’s construction of his academic identity as a doctoral student may not be assmooth as he expects as he needs to adjust himself to the Australian academia, which isdifferent from his professional identity as a politician.
Extract 1
My first challenge was that I had not studied for almost 40 years. Secondly,
conducting research allows me to learn new things more. My supervisor told me toattend a number of classes such as research methodology. I can observe newperspectives. I can look back to understand other people’s thoughts, analysis,
evaluation, and research results compared with my personal experiences. I can see
similarities and differences.
The participant encountered research challenges since he had not been involved in academic
study for quite some time. He had to rely mostly on his previous experience in politics todiscuss issues regarding his project on water policy. Educated in the American academic
system, attending classes enabled him to acculturate himself to learning in an Australian higher
education environment.
Extract 2
Contributing our ideas in seminars or workshops is good for the learning process
and knowledge sharing. The best perspective is holistic by listening to people whohave had different experiences in order to better understand the topic of discussion.
Communication is the best learning tool; otherwise, we will become narrow-mindedwithout knowing what’s going on in the world. It will be beneficial for our futurework.
His imagined identity was also realized for future collaborations. He enjoyed class discussion
as an important part of widening his views and learning process. His openness and extraversion
in class reflect desirable qualities in a good politician (Gerber et al., 2011; Weinschenk &Panagopoulos, 2014). He perceived himself on behalf of Thai doctoral students as a good,collaborative, and friendly student.
Extract 3
They (lecturers and classmates) think that Thai students are good, collaborative,and very friendly.
He also recognized that to become a legitimate doctoral student in the Australian academic
culture, he had to develop his research and academic writing skills. He thus sought English
support provided by the university in order to acquire and meet the linguistic requirements for
his PhD study.
Extract 4
Writing research reports can be problematic. My academic writing needs to be
improved. I need to learn how to write academically. Literature review helps me to168

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

understand academic writing styles. However, it’s difficult to produce a perfectpiece of writing. It’s quite common to have someone to review and edit my papers.
No matter how good my English is, academic English seems to have a different
style.
Extract 5
In terms of English support, I think the university offers full support already.
Although international students are required to have a certain level of English
proficiency to be admitted, they can attend extra English courses and workshops
provided by the university to improve their English.
The participant’s academic identity construction required the engagement of lecturers, peers,and support staff, which played significant roles in developing research and academic English
skills valued in higher learning. His academic engagement is underpinned by Lave andWenger’s (1991) communities of practice that involve relevant stakeholders to scaffold hisacademic self. In addition, his determination was to succeed in his study as he imagined that
his academic contribution could potentially alleviate Thailand’s crises.
Extract 6
After I graduate, I will do academic research to solve our country’s problems.
According to Bacha and Bahous (2013), ‘Western’ higher education values students’ active
engagement and critical thinking. This mature-age Thai student was required to adjust andaccommodate to a ‘Western’ culture of learning. Investment in education can be considered asa way to promote empowerment for mature-age learners whose increased intellectual capitalcan promote personal values and realize self-actualization. Academic aspiration was not,however, the only variable in the construction of his academic identity; the social context inwhich he undertook his study in Australia was also significant.
Social Context
Well-known for his political background in Thailand and Australia, the participant was not
only involved in Thai cultural events, but also recognized by a number of Australianorganizations. His previous ‘professional identity’ (Clarke et al., 2013) as a politician offered
him special exposure to international contexts, which promoted his well-being while learningand living in Australia.
Extract 7
I joined a Thai people club and attended religious activities. I’m also an honorable
member of Taronga Zoo. I was a member of Thai-Australian Parliamentary
Friendship under Inter-parliamentary Union.
Extract 8
I’m happy and living a simple lifestyle. I don’t need to adjust myself much because
I have lived in an international environment for quite some time. I have travelled
all around the world.

169

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Extract 9
I don’t need to adjust myself because I used to live abroad. It’s just that I have a
student lifestyle which is best because I don’t have a lot of responsibilities. No one
forces me. Success depends on me. I have freedom.
As a mature-age learner, he enjoyed having freedom to do things without many responsibilities.
When comparing his previous experience as a politician who was under frequent pressure, he
had become satisfied with his academic identity as he developed himself as a ‘personal grower’(Osborne et al., 2004). Being a doctoral student in Australia, he learned to be independent anddetermined to pursue academic success. He nevertheless retained the character traits of apolitician as suggested by Gerber et al. (2011) and Weinschenk and Panagopoulos (2014)
regarding conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness, emotional stability and extraversion,
which underpinned his appeal to the locals.
Extract 10
I love to interact with local people because I can learn about their way of life,
perspectives toward socio-economic and political changes, and experiences.
Interaction with the locals is essential.
Extract 11
It’s normal because Sydney is an international city. It’s a melting pot like in theUSA. There are Aborigines, refugees and immigrants. Linguistic and cultural
diversity is good because it allows local people to become aware of differences. It
also helps us to understand the locals.
Living in a multicultural city, he was optimistic and open to cultural differences. There were,
however, some local people who might generalize about Thai people and stereotype them as
Asian. Effective intercultural communication was bolstered by his cultural and linguistic
awareness and recognition of communicative contexts.
Extract 12
I think they (Australians) find Thai people good. However, there are some ignorantpeople who don’t care about foreigners because they never go anywhere – even thecity. When they see us, they may feel a bit strange.
Extract 13
First of all, I have learned about people’s lives including the locals, foreigners, andThais. Secondly, I have gained more academic knowledge and learned new waysof thinking.
Extract 14
Thai students need to adapt to living here. They need to learn to be independent.

170

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

The participant felt that his experiences as a student in Australia had provided him with anopportunity to embark on an academic journey consistent with Ibarra (2002), who suggests thata career changer needs to be open to new possibilities. It is, however, important for him todevelop a sense of independence in order to acculturate into Australian society, which ischaracterized by linguistic ideologies and unequal power relations at local and socio-politicalcontexts. His identities could therefore fluctuate and change depending on his personal,
sociocultural and historical factors.
Use of English for Communication
For the participant, English is a communicative tool bridging academic and social contexts.
Because he used to live and study in America when he was young, his communicative English
was highly competent. He had always used English while being a politician dealing withinternational organizations. In addition, he noted that English should be frequently used inorder to become fluent.
Extract 15
Because I lived in America for 5–6 years, I am very competent in using English.
Even though I have not studied for some time, I used English when I worked withinternational organizations. I was Chair and a committee member at international
conferences. I have used English consistently. Actually, if I don’t use English for awhile, it can get rusty.
He not only recognized the importance of academic English, but he also felt that his
communicative English should be improved while living and learning in Australia.
Extract 16
If Thai students have a good English foundation, that will be a great advantage.
However, if their English is not good, their learning may be a bit slow. They may
get bored and lose motivation. At the very least, they should have goodcommunication skills for daily living. However, they should be prepared before
going to class because participation in class discussions is important. If theirEnglish is not good, it will be okay because there is a big Thai community here.
But, their English will not improve. They need to practice their English
communication while studying here.
His previous international exposure allowed him to recognize varieties of English and speakers’
accents. Academic English and English for daily communication were necessary for any Thai
student in order to engage in academic and social interactions.
Extract 17
I always use English for daily communication. I don’t translate Thai to English andvice versa. I understand that when we first learn a new language, we often translate.
Listening to various accents also causes some problems. However, I have attended
international conferences for the past 30 years. I’m used to listening andrecognizing a variety of English accents.

171

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Extract 18
I distinguish between the two (native and non-native speakers) by recognizing theiraccents, speech patterns, and language use. I can identify right away who comesfrom rural or urban areas and approximately where in the world one is from because
I have extensive experience working with international people.
Extract 19
My university is international. Some people are not native English speakers. They
are from different countries. So far, there are more non-native English speakers thannative ones. There are a lot of non-native English-speaking professors. Native
speakers are Australians. I can identify whether someone is native or non-native by
where he/she comes from. However, native accents also vary from one place toanother. In Sydney CBD, the accent is blended – similar to that in the USA. There
are local accents.
At university, he encountered more non-native speakers including his lecturers and classmates
whose accents varied. Distinguishing native from non-native speakers of English by where theycame from, he considered himself a speaker of English as a second language. English was his
communicative tool for constructing and negotiating his second language identity representing
his personal and social selves according to the communicative context.
Extract 20
I can communicate in English like a second language. I don’t need to adjust myaccent. However, if we can learn and use the local English accent, we can blend ineasier. There are various local accents. If we know them, our listening
comprehension will be better. If we can sound like them, they will feel more
comfortable talking with us. It’s like we are one of them. Learning a local accent isuseful for our daily living.
Based upon Pennycook and Otsuji’s (2015) language practices in the city, the participant’sEnglish resource allowed him access to the different and mixed backgrounds of various
speakers, to construct and negotiate identities through his language, and recognize therelationship between language use, objects, and accompanying activities in his academic andcommunicative settings in Australia. To sum up, it is evident that the Thai doctoral student’s
narratives revealed that the complex inter-relationships between his experience, profession,educational background, social encounters, and English use was based on his sense of self
influenced by different sociocultural, educational and professional factors. As a mature-age
and career-changing student, he therefore had to be aware and balance between his personal,
academic and professional identities that would impact on his different discursive practices
including academic and sociocultural adaptations while living and studying in Australia.
Conclusion
This case study explores a Thai doctoral student’s narrative identity at an Australian university.
The participant was a former well-known politician in Thailand, who decided to enter anacademic discipline as a career change. His transition from politics to academics requires his
action, reflection, and experimentation through venturing himself into his new role, adapting

172

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017himself to the academic and research community, and negotiating his previous professional
political experiences with his imagined academician. The participant’s academic and social
contexts in living and studying in Australia is connected by using academic and communicative
English. As a mature-age learner, he reconstructs his academic self into the Australian higher
education and employs his former political experiences and connections as a strong foundation
to gain his imagined expectations. His narratives of life and career transitions through investingin higher education have illustrated that his personal growth and satisfaction have beenenhanced. It is, however, important to note that this case study may not be generalized to othercases; yet, it serves as a platform to undertake further research regarding a career change of apolitician who aims to become an academic as his personal aspirations and contributions that
potentially benefit the aging society at national and international levels.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by Australia Awards – Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships.
I would like to thank Distinguished Professor Alastair Pennycook for his constructive
comments on the project.

173

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

References
Abou-El-Kheir, A. (2017). A phenomenological study of identity construction in the education
sector of Qatar. In L. Buckingham (Ed.), Language, identity and education on the
Arabian Peninsula: Bilingual policies in a multilingual context (pp. 116–136). Bristol:Multilingual Matters.
Bacha, N. N., & Bahous, R. (2013). Cultures of learning in academia: A Lebanese case study.
In M. Cortazzi & L. Jin (Eds.) Researching cultures of learning: International
perspectives on language learning and education (pp. 116–135). New York: Palgrave
Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137296344_7
Bauer, J. J., & McAdams, D. P. (2004). Personal growth in adults’ stories of life transitions.
Journalof
Personality,
72(3),
573–602.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.00223506.2004.00273.x
Benson, P., Barkhuizen, G., Bodycott, P., & Brown, J. (2013). Second language identity innarratives of study abroad. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137029423
Bujold, C. (2004). Constructing career through narrative. Journal of Vocational Behavior,
64(3), 470-484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2003.12.010
Clarke, M., Hyde, A., & Drennen, J. (2013). Professional identity in higher education. In B. M.
Kehm & U. Teichler (Eds.), The academic profession in Europe: New tasks and newchallenges (pp. 7–21). New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-46145_2
Cochran, L. (1990). Narrative as a paradigm for career research. In R. A. Young & W. A.
Borgen (Eds.), Methodological approaches to the study of career (pp. 71–86). New York:
Praeger Publishers.
Cohen, L., Duberly, J., & Mallon, M. (2004). Social constructionism in the study of career:
Accessing the parts that other approaches cannot reach. Journal of Vocational Behavior,
64(3), 407–422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2003.12.007
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2000). Research methods in education (5th ed.).
London: Routledge Falmers. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203224342
Cortazzi, M., & Jin, L. (Eds.) (2013). Researching cultures of learning: International
perspectives on language learning and education. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137296344
Denscombe, M. (2003). The good research guide: For small-scale social research projects.
(2nd ed.). Berkshire: Open University Press.
Edwards, R., & Holland, J. (2013). What is qualitative interviewing? New York: Bloomsbury.
Gerber, A. S., Huber, G. A., Doherty, D. & Dowling, C. M. (2011). Personality traits and theconsumption of political information. American Politics Research, 39(1), 32–84.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1532673X10381466
Holliday, A. (2002). Doing and writing qualitative research. London: Sage Publications.

174

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Holstein, J. A. & Gubrium, J. F. (2000). The self we live by: Narrative identity in a postmodern
world. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hoyer, P., & Steyaert, C. (2015). Narrative identity construction in times of career change:
Taking note of unconscious desires. Human Relations, 68(12), 1837–1863.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726715570383
Huang, X. (2009). Politics in Pacific Asia: An introduction. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-08666-2
Hunter, S. V. (2010). Analysing and representing narrative data: The long and winding road.
Current Narratives, 2, 44–54.
Ibarra, H. (2002). Working identity – Nine unconventional strategies for reinventing yourcareer. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Kanchoochat, V., & Hewison, K. (2016). Introduction: Understanding Thailand’s politics.
JournalofContemporaryAsia,
46(3),
371–387.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00472336.2016.1173305
Kanno, Y., & Norton, B. (2003). Imagined communities and educational possibilities:
Introduction. Journal of Language, Identity, and Education, 24(4), 241–249.
https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327701JLIE0204_1
Knowles, M. S., Holton III, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. (2015). The adult learner: The definitiveclassic in adult education and human resource development. Routledge.
LaPointe, K. (2010). Narrating career, positioning identity: Career identity as a narrative
practice.
JournalofVocational
Behavior,
77(1),
1–9.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.04.003
Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511815355
Osborne, M., Marks, A., & Turner, E. (2004). Becoming a mature student: How adultapplicants weigh the advantages and disadvantages of higher education. Higher
Education, 48(3), 291–315. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HIGH.0000035541.40952.ab
McAdams, D. P. (2011). Narrative identity. In S. J. Schwartz, K. Luyckx, & V. L. Vignoles(Eds.), Handbook of identity theory and research (pp. 99–115). New York: Springer.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7988-9_5
Pavlenko, A. (2004). ‘The making of an American’: Negotiation of identities at the turn of thetwentieth century. In A. Pavlenko & A. Blackledge (Eds.), Negotiations of identities in
multilingual contexts (pp. 34–67). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Pavlenko, A., & Blackledge, A. (2004). Negotiations of identities in multilingual contexts.
Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Pennycook, A., & Otsuji, E. (2015). Metrolingualism: Language in the city. Oxon: Routledge.
Ricoeur, P. (1991). Narrative identity.
https://doi.org/10.5840/philtoday199135136

175

Philosophy

Today,

35(1),

73–81.

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Simonton, D. K. (2014). The personal characteristics of political leaders: Quantitative multiplecase assessments. In G.R. Goethals, S. T. Allison, R. M. Kramer, & D. M. Messick (Eds.),
Conceptions of leadership: Enduring ideas and emerging insights (pp. 53–69).
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137472038_4
Slay, H. S., & Smith, D. A. (2010). Professional identity construction: Using narrative tounderstand the negotiation of professional and stigmatized cultural identities. Human
Relations, 64(1), 85–107. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726710384290
Weinschenk, A. C., & Panagopoulos, C. (2014). Personality, negativity, and politicalparticipation. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 2(1), 164–182.
https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v2i1.280
Williams, J. (2010). Constructing a new professional identity: Career change into teaching.
Teaching and Teacher Education, 26(3), 639–647.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2009.09.016
Yankelovich, D. (2005). Ferment and change: Higher education in 2015. Chronicle of Higher
Education, 52(14), B6.
Yin, R. K. (2003). Case study research: Design and methods (3rd ed.). London: Sage
Publications.
Corresponding author: Singhanat NomnianContact email: snomnian@hotmail.com

176

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

177

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

178

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Hearts Grow: Contemplative Learning for Inner Stability Development inFemale Prison Inmates

Somsit Asdornnithee & Proetphan Daensilp
Mahidol University, Thailand

179

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Abstract
Regarding the research questions of how the contemplative learning process is appropriate forThai female prison inmates and how it can transform the learners, the objectives of the project
were to study the learning process facilitation appropriate for the inner stability developmentof female prison inmates, and to explicate their inner experiences found during and after thecompletion of the program. The methodologies used were action research andphenomenological research. The obtained data were then qualitatively analyzed. The
phenomenological result showed significant inner changes in the participants. These included
the more inclusive perspectives one possessed, i.e. the ability to make more sense regarding
the interconnectedness between oneself and surrounding people. Meanwhile, each participant
could view herself more self-authoring and more responsible for her own actions. Besides,
Meditation had become a useful tool allowing them to mindfully take care of themselves fromwithin. All these phenomena corresponded with the results found during the eight rounds ofthe learning process. As for the learning process facilitation appropriate for such inner
development, it consisted of 14 key components within sufficient length of time, while theprocess itself showed three distinctive phases.
Keywords: female prison inmates; contemplative education; inner stability; action research.

180

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Introduction
According to the 2010 report of the Department of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, mostfemale prison inmates in Thailand, while imprisoned for trivialities due to economic stress,
suffered depression, anxiety, and fear. They were also at great risk of suicide. Many projects
have been introduced to make a change in the quality of life in prisons, such as “Narratives
from the gallows project”, “To become the editors of Jit-seri newspaper project”, etc.
(Contemplative Education Center, 2015). The results showed that the participants in suchprojects had improvement in self-esteem, daily time use, relationships, attitudes, andworldviews. In other words, projects for inmates which are significant in the long-term
development of the life quality, with the decrease in recidivism rate, are those associated with
the inner dimension. These may include self-reflection, cultivation of inner stability, selfacceptance and self-esteem, and right attitudes towards life, surrounding people, and the world.
Inner stability is considered as one of the important qualities signifying spiritual wellbeing. It
gives rise to values, happiness, and strengths that one, as a human being, could embody andhence becomes a critical factor for determining the positive outcome and success of such works.
In this sense, contemplative learning-based training programs may appropriately serve thispurpose, providing the learners direct experiences so that they can develop the inner qualities
at their own pace. Likewise, the process for transformation rooted in the inner dimension canalso impact learners to their core and is irreversible (Asdornnithee & Phukrongnak, 2012;
Thongtavee, et al., 2008). Such success results from the expansion of the person’s frame ofreference to accommodate more reality, allowing the consciousness to be more inclusive anddiscernable, thus be able to make more sense of the world. The outcomes are also thoserecognizable in behaviors in everyday life as they seem to be more authentic, right, anddesirable (Mezirow, 2003; Kitchenham, 2008). Apparently, to apply contemplative learning
processes with female prison inmates in Thailand is an innovative and also a promising training
project where a sustainable inner transformation in learners like stability and spiritual
wellbeing can be expected. Moreover, this learning project, when its outcomes have beenshown and publicized, could further influence related communities and society so that thesocial policies regarding punishment and imprisonment would be revised in a more
understanding way.
Literature Review
Contemplative education in Thailand arose a decade ago from the attempt to solve crises in
education which has been clinging tightly to the positivist paradigm and materialism(Asdornnithee, 2011). In brief, it is to get over the limitations resulting from such thought
patterns by coming back to pay heed to the importance of the inner entities where the true
operation of learning is taking place. Palmer (1998, 2004), an American educator gives thesimilar concept of education by indicating that the true learning originates from the innerpractices as one sets foot on one’s own spiritual journey towards becoming more authentic.
Contemplative education in Thailand was framed within three main principles: religious studies,humanism, and holism. To fruitfully carry it out, the preparation of one’s own mind, especiallythe power of mindfulness and the appropriateness of attitudes, is also necessary. In addition,
supporting a way of life that allows the learner to commit herself in her path of spiritual practice
is important, too. And there are two significant outcomes: transformation, and emancipation(Asdornnithee, 2011).

181

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Due to the broad epistemic sense of contemplative education, variety of the nature ofknowledge and multiple ways of knowing are well accepted. In other words, the epistemology
of contemplative education opens up a wider space for acquiring knowledge in the following
aspects: subjectivity, multiplicity, and indefiniteness (Asdornnithee, 2011). To simplify this,we may say that contemplative education employs tools like meditation, as well as heartfelt
contemplation, with the inner conditions of relaxation, intimacy, expansive love, openness, andself-awareness, to allow the learner to gain back her own wholeness and insight of being able
to see the authentic state of all things.
Different from other typical ways of learning, contemplative education aims to work upon the
innermost nature of the learner’s self, resulting in the transformation of one’s meaning-making
process or frame of reference. Therefore, with this sense, contemplative education istransformational by dismantling old meaning perspectives with the uses of critical discourseand critical self-reflection. Then this leads to the self-generation in a new and higher order ofconsciousness which allows the learner to create new reality according to its new meaning
perspective (Thongtavee et al., 2008; Kitchenham, 2008). Mezirow, who is widely recognized
as the founder of the concept of transformative learning, defines it as learning that transforms
frames of reference, or the seemingly fixed belief system, which used to be problematic andlimiting, into a more open and inclusive ones. Such new frames of reference are better because
they are more likely to generate meanings that are more true and justified (Mezirow, 2003).
As critical self-reflection is considered as one of the indispensable learning capabilities that
contribute to transformation, Kegan (1982) identifies this as the capability of mind to viewthings objectively. What actually happens is that after one’s mind can see itself embedding ina big assumption, or a belief system, it will be aware of new possibilities getting itself out ofthat old assumption. This results in being able to take new and better actions. Kegan says that
this process is the transformation of consciousness, which in all consists of five orders. Throughone life time, people develop their own consciousness from that of less complexity to more
complexity, designated as impulsive mind, imperial mind, socialized mind, self-authoring mind,
and self-transforming mind, respectively (Kegan, 1982).
One way to make a transformation happen is to experience and participate in a process oflearning which contains a number of appropriate contributing factors. Framed within thehumanistic values and holistic paradigm, a successful contemplative facilitation must have thefollowing learning components: contemplation, compassion, connectedness, confronting
reality, continuity, commitment, and community, or in short, the 7 C’s principle (Nilchaikovit& Jantarasuk, 2009). All these components are carefully considered when designing andfacilitating a learning process to make sure that none of them is missing but appropriatelyintertwined to build up a process suitable for each group of the learners. Thus, the person who
knowingly designs and carries out such learning process, i.e. a facilitator, has to embody thecorresponding qualities and fulfill the duties, such as creating a safe learning space, asking selfinquiry questions, listening deeply, reading the group’s energy, being aware of group
domination, communicating properly, and inviting people to face their edge to thrive(Kuenkaew, 2012).
Methodology
Regarding the research questions of how the contemplative learning process is appropriate forThai female prison inmates and how it can transform the learners, this research aimed to work
upon the female inmates’ quality of life in two prisons, Chiangmai Woman Correctional

182

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Institution and Khonkaen Central Prison, where the cultivation of inner stability would be
mainly emphasized. The two prisons were purposively selected and the criteria were about
those of their own interests and availability. The research, run in parallel in the two prisons,has two objectives: 1) to study the learning process facilitation appropriate for the innerstability development in female inmates, and 2) to explicate the female inmates’ innerexperiences found during and after the completion of the program. For the maximal
effectiveness, the number of participants from each prison was limited to 30.
The study employed action research and phenomenological research as its main methodologies,
where semi-structured interview, in-depth interview, focus group interview, and nonparticipatory observation were the tools used. All the data qualitatively collected fromfacilitators, inmates, as well as documents, were analyzed and interpreted to elucidate thereflection and action regarding the learning process and facilitations that could successfully
lead to the development of inner stability. They were also analyzed to reveal the phenomena
and dynamic of inner experiences of female prison inmates who have fully participated in thisprogram.
Learning Process Design
There are four pillars that make up the entire learning process: Self-awareness, Meditation,
Social structure, and Transformative learning, all of which are rooted in the Contemplative
Education developed in Thailand’s educational institutes in the past 10 years (Asdornnithee &Phukrongnak, 2012). Self-awareness and Meditation are the major elements of contemplativeeducation in which the learners must cultivate the strength of mindfulness and use it to explore
and see deeply within themselves their own pattern (of thoughts, feelings and actions),
prejudice, and worldview. Meditation also plays an important role in creating time and spacefor serenity and peace, so allowing ones to be able to come back to look after themselves fromwithin and build up their own inner stability even when their life is in much turmoil. Social
structure contributes a major component to the content of knowledge that the program would
provide the learners in order to raise up their awareness regarding relationships and social
systems. Ranks, classes, power, consumerism, gender, and spiritual feminism, all of these are
the topics to be contemplated and worked out together in the group so that their life’s
difficulties would be unfolded and rightly understood. Lastly, Transformative learning works
with the inner-most nature of a person, the frame of reference, in the way that the consciousness
is developed to a higher stage where such person gains new capacity to perceive, understand,and be able to cope with the surrounding world with more complexity (Kitchenham, 2008).
Once the DNA of the entire learning process has been established as mentioned above, thencome the four areas of content where all are interconnected. These are Individuality,
Relationships, Social systems, and Spirituality. All are weaved into the whole process whereas
Contemplation remains the center of all (Suthontanyakorn, 2014).

183

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Individuality
pattern, prejudice,personality

Relationships

Contemplation

trust, empathy,
communicationin thoughts, feelings,
and actions

Social systems
power, gender,
consumerism

Spirituality
mindfulness,compassion, inner
peace

Figure 1: Four areas of content of the contemplative learning process.
In the learning program, there were altogether eight rounds within a 10-month span. Each roundlasted for four consecutive days. The contents, activities, and tools used in all eight rounds ofthe program are summarized in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Summary of contents, activities, and tools used in the program.
Round
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th

Contents
Empowerment, attunement,
and coexistence
Self-esteem and relationshipSelf-understanding and indepth personality
Creative&
mindfulcommunication
Self-contemplation throughgender and culture
Embracing oneself by writing
and drama
Self-contemplation throughconsumerism,
andcontemplative arts
Conclusion and life design

Activities
Icebreaker,
Dialogue,
Deeplistening/perception,
Different
forms of Self-awareness, Selfreflection, Self-acceptance andEmpowerment, Cultivation ofLove, Compassion, Integrity, andother desirable qualities, etc.

184

Tools / Materials
Group process, Group sharing,
Drawing/Painting, Journaling,
Comprehension/Questioning,
CriticalThinking,
Filmwatching, Meditation, etc.

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Results
Opening Rounds
Although all participants were selected on a voluntary basis, many of them, initially, did not
feel very clear about what the learning program was for, or wondered what the program andfacilitators did want from them. On the other side, due to the strictness of prison life, mostjoined in the activities as a good girl, trying to say just nice things, complying with all rules,
and not revealing what really was in their mind. Building up trust seemed to be the first taskfor everybody.
During the first self-introduction, many participants looked somewhat nervous andtense. But after they did some movement, all seemed to be more relaxed and joyful.
Many participants said that they had fun and felt very happy. They liked to run
around and shouting out loud because they were normally not allowed doing so inthe prison area.
When asked to do self-introduction with a picture they drew to describe about themselves forthe very first time, many just briefly said their name but were too shy to talk more. However,facilitators’ welcoming words and spending time with the artworks helped soothe theatmosphere. When the group came up with the common agreements, there was one who said,“Just do whatsoever that somebody has told you to!” The facilitators then suggested to thegroup some more friendly examples, like non-judgmental open space, respect, voicing innerexperiences, and confidentiality.
In the following days, different games were introduced to challenge the group. Many of themwere not played just for fun, but to induce cooperation and the coherent power of the team. As
life in prison taught people to always perform strictly according to the instructions, participants,
once instructed, would absolutely get the task done by whatsoever way. When problems arose,they tended to do some things, like projection or even cheating the game to avoid being caught
as a faulty person. Some of the essential data from non-participatory observation are presented
below.
Many tried to participate in the game, while some looked unconcerned and did
whatsoever as somebody spoke up. The unsuccessful techniques were repeated over
and over and argument broke up. No one really listened to one another but the
dispute was still not severe. … Hours had passed, everyone seemed to be exhausted,
tense, and bored. Many blamed others while some started to ask for extra helps orsought for new solutions like open a serious discussion. When participants settled
down in smaller groups and began to share things mindfully, they learned that asthey focused on the goal only, they have missed many untold voices and overlookedso many things along the way. They did not really see their friends in the team. The
team went back to game with more receptivity and peaceful attitude with noticeably
less blaming. More sacrifice and less projection finally led the group to success.
Trust among each other and the feeling of safety began to build up slowly as participants got
to know one another closely, with the assistance of activities like movement, icebreakers, groupsharing, deep listening, role-play, and journal writing. One thing which was very much against
the custom here was to voice and talk things out without any judgment. Another significant
helper was the Meditation, as facilitators found that to introduce participants to some easy

185

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

practices like breathing meditation that they could make use of in daily life really made things
different.
Being bold and strong is very much like a core value here. So sharing deep down
and touching the vulnerable things inside was almost impossible at first, not tomention about crying. When Dialogue was seriously practiced in a small group, it
was a good opportunity for anyone to be like a receptive container. When one
person started to let her heart break open, another followed and the whole group
was filled with calmness and ready to listen deeply. The group could then welcome
more and more things including tears. Suffering seemed to reduce whenauthentically shared. Some dared to talk about her own mistakes in the past, somewere fully active in role-play, and some began to ask more questions to learn aboutothers’ perspectives. Many could experience, though a short one, a serene momentand felt relieved after the sharing and breathe work.
Life in prison is an extraordinary one in the sense that suffering and difficulties, both physicaland mental, seem to be everywhere and, for many times, they look sort of overloaded. Things
like this inevitably affected the learning process, too. Therefore, what the facilitators needed to
do more to help the process to run smoothly was to work with the context and the involved
people. Some of our facilitators approached warders and prison officers in a gentle andcooperative manner to gain trust and mutual understanding. Once during the process, anactivity was spontaneously carried out to catch up with the upcoming national traditional
festival of Loi Krathong (a Thai festival celebrated annually in a full moon evening of the 12thmonth in the Thai lunar calendar). In the festival, people float a banana-leaf cup decorated withflowers, incense sticks, and a candle, in a river to pay respect to the water spirits, let go of all
one’s defilements and bad luck, and give thanks to the Goddess of Water), allowing participants
to enjoy giving and receiving presents, as well as performing meritorious deeds and removing
one’s bad fortune.
Another activity that played such an important role to yield understanding and acceptancedeeply within oneself and others was the Celtic Wheel. By simply categorizing personalities
into four different types (Fire, Water, Earth, and Air), participants could see clearly how eachtype’s inner world functioned and eventually came up with the heartfelt appreciation in humandiversity.
Outside, I see myself as a Fire because I am short-tempered. When I am in here, I
can no longer be like that but have to control and be more patient. It’s not
worthwhile to fight so I see no reason to remain short-tempered. I now see myself
more like an Earth here. …
I feel so curious. I was born with all types, I guess. I like this activity because it
makes me know more about myself.
I’ve got my own mirror. I have all types in me, though a little each. It’s alsosituational.
I can see more about myself. And to make any changes, it has to start first with myown way of thinking, which may take the whole life to do so.
I analyze and understand my surrounding friends more and will improve my own
habits.
Thanks to all types, we are all the same, having pros and cons. It’s more important
than how we make use of them.

186

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Approaching Half Way
After the first three rounds of the program, participants could now feel more of the intimacy
and trust, as well as being accustomed to listening and sharing about inner experiences. The
learning then shifted a little towards some content regarding outer issues, like gender, to raiseawareness of social belief systems, especially those imposed on women. Necessary informationand facts were presented to show how the society framed and affected the wellbeing of both
men and women, and then brain-storming was welcome. Meanwhile, self-reflection, including
Dialogue, art works, and drama works, were carried out at times to ensure that each participant
did not lose connection with oneself.
Most participants were eager to speak and share their own stories, partly because it
was so familiar and directly affected their life. And when the gender box was clearly
illustrated, some could realize the inequality and see its impacts. They came up withwords saying how they truly felt when they themselves or their people of either
gender had fallen victim to this. Some stories were cruelly hurt, and some were
helpless but unavoidable. …
Out there, if you are a woman you have to be pretty. That’s what I believe. I eventook drugs to keep my figure good, to make my body slim.
Ever since I could remember, I saw my dad hit my mom. He had many wives, hurt
my mom bringing those women into our house. I felt very angry and thought that if
I ever had husbands like my dad, I could kill them all. One day, I had a very good
husband, however I could never fully trust in him. I couldn’t stay with him long andfelt guilty that it’s me who was his curse.
Seeing the oppression on one side, many participants began to understand the problems anddifficulties encountered by her party on the other side, too. Moreover, they realized moreclearly both positive and negative impacts of the gender box, and admitted that they wanted to
become a new person, going freely out of the box.
Empathy and mutual understanding slowly emerged during today’s talk. There wasno criticism, outcry, or projection. The process itself was very much like healing
one another, although there was one girl who was intensely shaken due to her own
defense mechanism against the hatred for her father. She wept and felt disappointed
that she was not able to forgive. She was approached attentively by facilitators andthe healing for her seemed to take some more time. …
The program also invited some (female) guest speakers to join the sessions uncovering totally
everything about their own past experiences. Some were abused because of the cultural belief
that favored men over women. Some shared about their pressure of being homosexual. As thetrue stories had been sincerely told, this became such an inspiring and powerful example,
showing how women could liberate themselves from the old belief systems, be more open, andempower themselves to face up their problems with more faith and awareness.
Social issues like gender and sexuality allowed each participant to come back to deeply see her
own wound which had then determined her life ever since. Many had gained understanding,relief, and forgiveness, while others were still being trapped but able to recognize that state ofmind and became more accepting. Time could help but the attitude of non-judgment, no-advice,and no-conclusion yet would also contribute to the true liberation afterwards. Again,
Meditation helped essentially keeping balance between the outer and the inner world.

187

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

At the end of the sixth round, one could apparently notice the light, relieved, and relaxed
feelings in many participants. Many had known the way to be aware of and release whateveremotion stuck in a truthful and desirable way, and at the same time, be able to spiritually takecare of themselves. Mindfulness, formerly installed, now became such a spiritual device that
one could make use of it whenever needed. After a session of Meditation, one participant said:
When I think of the light, I smile. The light makes me feel valuable for everybody.
I feel calmer, more discernable, and more acceptable. I try not to think too much.
I have switched my bedroom. I adjusted myself once again. It’s easier this time. …
Tired but fun. Yesterday, I lost my fan. I was angry with myself for not being
mindful enough, still angry at the moment!
I miss my friends. … I do sitting meditation everyday sending them all my best
wishes.”Great! I could spend time with trees.
Closing Rounds
The last two rounds were devoted to the cultivation of long-term stability. This was achieved
mainly by mindfulness, seeing one’s own meaning in life, and self-contentment. A participantreflected after contemplating what is precious in life:
Before, I never thought of loving myself. I hurt myself when angry. I felt satisfied
when it hurt. Now, I learn to love myself more.
… I told my mother that I love her. I have never said this to her before.
The activity regarding consumerism allowed participants to realize that money orbenefits could, many times, break the relationships apart, cause avarice, and makepeople compete.
A life of running after every wanting is an exhausting one. Now I know what
sufficiency is like. After I go out, I will change my way of life.
A great example showing what participants finally learned was when one said, “The real
problem is in here, my mind. If my mind becomes weak, or loses willpower, then things getworse. What really shakes me is from inside. Sometimes it’s overwhelming, though. The mostimportant thing is in here, if I have inner stability, then nothing can make me shaken.” Indeed,
the problems could be resolved just when we look back deeply inside and not outside.
To emphasize such importance, the inner stability could be created in many more ways, as
facilitators introduced other forms of Meditation such as hand movement, walking, singing, orjust bringing awareness back home, the breathing, whenever needed. Moreover, group
counseling was also practiced to help open more space for sharing and supporting each other.
Now they knew how to embrace one another’s feelings and help them getting through withtruthful and non-judgmental manner. By the way, “Being Mindful” or “Embracing” naturally
became a catchword of the group.
By the completion of the learning program, changes in participants apparently noticed byfacilitators (based on the data presented above) are summarized below:

188

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

1. Becoming more aware of oneself, feeling more calmness and serenity from within,and having better skill in Meditation and being able to make use of mindfulness indaily life to sustain inner stability and reduce stress.
2. Having more of relaxed, trustful, welcoming, and caring atmosphere in
relationships, including being able to deeply listen, as well as to sincerely voice.
3. Transcending one’s old frame of reference into a broader and more relevant one
with more capacity of making sense of the world, including being less judgmental.
4. Unfolding one’s own problem to see more of ways out, self-emancipating, andgaining back self-esteem and vital force.
The inmates’ personal inner experiences inquired from interviews and journal writing also
show similarity with those observed during the learning process. The phenomena found can be
described in four aspects as follows.
The Mind Becomes More Stable
This started when participants could be aware and see more clearly their own inner world, nomatter how good or bad it was. They can now delicately touch all those feelings with lessresistance, at the same time, they feel more of happiness arising from self-acceptance, serenity,
caring and supports from family and friends, as well as self-confidence and the commitment tomake change in themselves.
The program has changed my heart into a caring and tender one. … It’s warm.
Besides, there are many other warm hearts, too, my friends’. When I realize this, I
know that I am no longer alone. There is no point to be inferior any more. Yes, mylife is happy, it is indeed. Before, I didn’t see this just because of my own negative
attitudes.
There are a lot in here I can’t describe. I only know that right now I am happy, andknow how to make the rest of my life happy.
I was bored to death when first attending this training. I didn’t know how to be withmyself. It’s completely impossible for me. But when I learned more, I started to likeit. Seeing myself being more calm, and more mindful, I now can come back to lookat myself, pay more attention to myself, and most importantly, I now love myself
much more than I used to do.
Many voices say not only that they are happy during the learning program, but also with muchconfidence that they, in the future, won’t go back to be in trouble like before. This implies
stability of mind and that the lessons in the past become like their immunity.
There Are Signs of Spiritual Growth
One important ability is self-awareness that leads to the acceptance in one another. Difference
and diversity are appreciated, interconnectedness is seen, and responsibility in all actions of
one’s own is recognized. Such growth then makes lives more authentic and meaningful,allowing one to be able to make more contributions needed for others’ wellbeing, and also to
inspire others to grow.
I see a little girl in me who needs cares and warmth. She now has a stronger heart
which is ready to share warmth for others, too.

189

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

I am proud that my story can help a girl to stand up again. The power that energizes
her seems to energize me, too. Now my heart, once halved, is full.
When I start to get angry, I come back and say to myself, “You are now angry,
aren’t you. Your heart is beating harder. Anger is coming, anger is coming. Only
then, I can feel lightness. …
As seen in many quotes, spiritual experiences help one to become freer, less attached, andeasier to let go things. Also, some have faith in something higher than their own selves,
meanwhile, many can now seek happiness from within.
The View of Life Becomes Expansive
The content of social systems introduced in the program resulted in broadening participants’views, and also, showed the healing effect. They become more objective, moreover, theyrealized that one’s own life can never be cut off from others and society. They are all connected,
including whatever suffering they have at the moment. This new understanding leads to
opening to other people’s perspectives and to liberating oneself out of the trap. Moreover, nonjudgmental attitude, forgiveness, and inspiration for a better life are now possible.
We certainly don’t live alone. Everyone influences one another. … Friends canalways show me ways. …
I feel more relieved. From now on, I’ll be careful not to judge anyone again,
especially those things about gender. Now, I can be myself fully. I am proud ofwhat I am without blaming anyone.
I want to understand the man I love, my husband, more. I want to listen to what hesays, and accept more about what he is.
The lessons learned, if not healing them completely, can help participants to realize their own
feelings more clearly and see deeply to the origin of the problems, which make them in betterbalance.
Meditation Has Naturally Been Integrated into Life
Being still and serene has more become very much like a familiar state of mind in many
participants. Many have applied different ways of Meditation they have learned from theprogram to cope with various difficult situations in reality. Therefore, this is the essential wayof how to take care of oneself in the long-run and to be able to remain calm and stable fromwithin even when life is facing difficulties.
Recently, I am quite emotional, can’t really sit (sitting Meditation), however, I try
to sit every day. I believe that my mind will be restored to calmness soon.
What I get most from the program is the mindfulness. I see my surrounding friends
with mindfulness. When they are sad, I mindfully listen and pay attention to them.
If I can suggest them something, then I’ll do, if not, I just cheer them up, and sharewhatsoever good.
I really like when I can be aware of my mind. I am practicing it at the moment.
Before, my mind was really like a monkey. But now, if I see that I will bring it backto myself.

190

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

After the 10-month long learning, participants feel grateful for what they have experienced,
realizing by themselves their own inner changes, the feelings of joy and happiness, and the
expansion of their heart and perspectives.
Behind the Scene
There are many components both within the inmates themselves and in the learning programfacilitation, including qualities and competency of facilitators, which affect the outcome of thisprogram. Very grievous and traumatic backgrounds in many female inmates, the pressurizing
and oppressive atmosphere of the prisons, as well as the characteristics and nature of mind ofparticipants certainly affect the facilitation in many ways.
In brief, action and reflection throughout all the eight rounds of learning in both areas areanalyzed and interpreted to obtain 14 key components which contribute to the success of thisprogram facilitation. Those key components are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

Mindfulness: All activities are based on mindfulness approach, which is done
through different ways of Meditation.
Inner Teacher: The direction of learning is to bring people back to their inner selves.
The final “A-ha” must come from within.
Contemplation: The learning allows learners in their own sufficient space and timeto inquire deeply.
Experience-based Validation: The authentic learning must come from direct
experiences people have encountered.
Trust: The learning is made possible in the atmosphere of relaxation, safety, and nonjudgmental and non-marginalized manner.
Delicate Participation: The learning is made possible by the attitude of compassion,
empathy, intimacy, and gently attentive manner.
Holistic Approach: The learning process is done through all channels, including
sensation, feeling, thinking, and intuition.
Interconnectedness: The learning must be connected with all aspects of the learners’
lives across all time.
Commitment: The learning makes learners hold on to long term and regular practices.
Continuity: The learning must take place over a sufficiently extensive length of time.
Fluidity: For the sake of learners’ benefits, the learning can compromise the fixed
goals.
Contextual Work: The learning process has to also work out with the learners’ life
context.
Community: Not for individual, but the learning needs help and support from thegroup to bring about the collective growth.
Aim of Transformation: The learning process works with the learners’ frame ofreference in order to let them go beyond their edge and open up their new perspectives
and worldviews.

All the comprehensive 14 components described above become a good mirror to reflect all theimportant facets of a process when one facilitates. Likewise, the qualities of such facilitators
must also be relevant. Easygoing, gently attentive, respectable, sensible, aware, decisive,
pointed, profound, receptive, etc.; all these attributes are certainly required for a successful
facilitator. Nevertheless, what lies beneath such successful appearances is the fundamental
belief that says, “All humans are equal in dignity. Everybody has compassion and a seed to191

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

grow all the same. And all can always change.” One last, but not least, finding regarding thecontemplation-based facilitator is from a quote in the final focus group interview, saying that:
The spiritual growth of learners is inevitably related to the spiritual growth offacilitator him / herself, too. To bring down oneself, in an egoless manner, to learn,
to listen, and not to attach to what one has learned before, together with to cooperatewith teamwork, is the real key to success.
Conclusion
The objectives of the project were to study the learning process facilitation appropriate for the
inner stability development in female prison inmates, and to explicate their inner experiences
found during and after the completion of the program. After all eight rounds of the learning
process, the results showed significant inner changes in the participants. These included theintegration of mindfulness practices and Meditation into their daily life, having more healthy
relationship skills and the recognition of interconnectedness, the broader frame of reference
which became more inclusive and self-authoring, and having more inner stability allowing
them to be able to gain back their values and vital forces.
As for the learning process facilitation appropriate for such inner development, it consisted of
14 key components within the sufficient length of time as described above, while the processitself showed three distinctive phases where one would respectively lead to another. It beganwith the preparatory phase when participants started to build up relationship, gained trust,learned how to create an open, safe space without judgment, and familiarized themselves withmindfulness practices. The middle phase was the work upon perspectives and worldviews as
participants learned to free themselves from the old frame and be aware of social impacts. The
last one, the long-term stabilizing phase, happened when participants came back to practicetheir inner work earnestly and see how to sustain the inner peace for the rest of their life. As aresult, the female prison inmates’ inner transformation apparently happened and its stepwise
dynamic could be elucidated as:
Trust gaining à Mind opening à Accepting and understanding à Unfolding à
Setting free à Having faith in one’s own life
The outcome of this study was presented to public in the two-day event of a prison visit which
followed shortly afterwards, and the achievement implied that the implementation of thisinnovative learning in wider contexts was positive.
Acknowledgements
A previous version of this article was included in the proceedings of The IAFOR Asian
Conference on Education & International Development 2017: Asdornnithee, S. & Daensilp, P.
(2017). Hearts Grow: Contemplation-Based Inner Stability Development in Female Inmates.
The Asian Conference on Education & International Development 2017. Art Center Kobe,
Kobe, Japan. March 26–29, 2017. Proceedings, pp. 11-23. ISSN: 2189-101X.
http://papers.iafor.org/conference-proceedings/ACEID/ACEID2017_proceedings.pdf

192

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

References
Asdornnithee, S. (2011). Epistemology of contemplative education in Thailand. (Master’s
thesis). Mahidol University, Bangkok.
Asdornnithee, S., & Phukrongnak, K. (2012). An analytical study of knowledge incontemplation-oriented transformative learning for cultivating integrity. (Unpublisheddocument). The Committee of Religion, Morality, Ethics, Arts, and Culture, The Senate,
and Contemplative Education Center, Mahidol University.
Contemplative Education Center. (2015). From hearts to hearts project: With authentic values,
happiness, and inner strengths for cultivating inner stability in female prison inmatesusing contemplative learning process. (Unpublished document). Thai Health Promotion
Foundation.
Creswell, J.W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five
approaches. (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Kegan, R. (1982). The evolving self: Problem and process in human development. Cambridge,
MA: Harvard University Press.
Kitchenham, A. (2008). The evolution of John Mezirow’s transformative learning theory.
Journaloftransformativeeducation,
6(2),
104–123.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344608322678
Kuenkaew, U. (2012). A path towards transformation: Gender and justice on spiritual basisand heartfelt learning. Bangkok, Thailand: Foundation for Women.
Lee, E. (2013). Los Angeles intervention program provides model for other nations. Retrieved
August 27, 2017 from http://www.voanews.com/content/los-angeles-gang-interventionprogram-provides-model-for-other-nations/1703711.html
Mezirow, J. (2003). Transformative learning as discourse. Journal of transformative education,
1(1), 58–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344603252172
Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412995658
Nilchaikovit, T., & Jantarasuk, A. (2009). The art of facilitation in transformative learning
process:Contemplation-based facilitator manual. Nakorn Pathom, Thailand:Contemplative Education Center, Mahidol University.
O’Brien, R. (1998). An overview of the methodological approach of action research. Retrieved
August 27, 2017 from http://www.web.ca/~robrien/papers/arfinal.html
Palmer, P. (1998). The courage to teach: Exploring the inner landscape of a teacher’s life. San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Palmer, P. (2004). A hidden wholeness: The journey toward an undivided life. San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass.
Reimer, J., Paolitto, D. P., & Hersh, R. H. (1990). Promoting moral growth: From Piaget toKohlberg. (2nd ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.

193

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Saurez, A., Lee, D. Y., Rowe, C., Gomez, A. A., Murowchick, E., & Linn, P. L. (2010).
Freedom project: Nonviolent communication and mindfulness training in prison.
(Unpublished document).
Suthontanyakorn, A. (2014). Interconnectedness between feminist practice and the inner
growth. (Master’s thesis). Mahidol University, Bangkok.
Tangsangob, M. (2013). Experiences and process of transformation in Baan Kanchanapisek’s
youth. (Master’s thesis). Mahidol University, Bangkok.
Thongtavee, C., Pongpakatien, J., Temudom, T., Tantirittisak, P., & Ratanapojanart, S. (2008).
Jittapanya Prueksa: Exploration and knowledge synthesis of fundamental contemplativeeducation. Bangkok, Thailand: Research and Knowledge Management in Contemplative
Education Project, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, and Contemplative Education
Center, Mahidol University.
Corresponding author: Somsit Asdornnithee
Email: returnee95@yahoo.com

194

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

195

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017196

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

White Teachers’ Reactions to the Racial Treatmentof Middle-School Black Boys

Stefan Battle
Rhode Island College, USA

197

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Abstract
This qualitative exploratory study, informed by grounded theory, used questionnaires andunstructured interviews based on fictionalized vignettes to examine urban, public, middleschool White teachers’ attitudes about middle-school Black boys, questioning whether and how
such attitudes might influence classroom interactions. Twenty-four participants responded tothree vignettes that were fictionalized from the author’s professional experiences and described
White-teachers’ interactions with middle-school Black boys. In these vignettes, the teachers
used race either to chastise or give unfair privileges and inequitable opportunities to the Black
students. The findings revealed that participants exhibited negative attitudes toward theteachers in the vignettes, indicating that the multicultural training courses participants hadreceived may have sensitized them to classroom-based racial inequities.
Keywords: Black boys; White teachers; middle-school; urban education; multiculturalism.

198

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Introduction
I remember that as a young Black6 male adolescent I was stereotyped and racially profiled
primarily by White teachers as not being academically worthy of their attention. During myeight elementary school years, I did not experience racial discourse from my White teachers.
Perhaps this was because I attended a Catholic school. However, when I was interviewed forthe public high school I wanted to attend and during my secondary school years, I began toexperience apparently racially influenced discourse from White teachers. Sadly, theexperiences and challenges of my racial identification in school seem to be especially common
among Black males, past and present, many of whom have been racially profiled and who
struggle with being negatively labeled by some White teachers. White teachers are in a uniqueposition of either becoming the allies of Black boys or – perhaps unwittingly – their tormentors.
It is important to consider whether and how White teachers’ attitudes influence their classroom
relationships with Black boys. Studying White teachers' attitudes may reveal whether it ispossible for White teachers to place themselves more in the shoes of Black boys rather than toremain in the shoes of their White colleagues. Allport, as cited in Griffith and London (1980),
found fractionalization among White teachers and Black students, particularly males. The
authors suggested that people’s attitudes and beliefs function as a mechanism for limiting the
behavioral options they have at their disposal. Attitudes certainly may affect how students
perceive themselves and how they perform in classrooms where teacher-student racialdifferences are present. It seems likely that, as pre-adolescents, middle-school Black boys are
sensitive to and not oblivious of the negative attitudes of their teachers and that they may beparticularly sensitive regarding their White teachers, especially if the boys sense that racial
guilt is a factor in their teacher-student relationships. Considering their generally sociallystigmatized racial identity of being a Black youth, the added racial tension may especiallycomplicate their development.
Tatum (2003) wrote: “As children enter adolescence, they begin to explore the question ofidentity, asking ‘Who am I? Who can I be?’ in a way they have not done before. For Black
youth, asking ‘Who am I?’ includes thinking about ‘Who am I ethnically and/or racially? What
does it mean to be Black?’” (p. 53). Tatum’s words are a reminder that middle-school Blackboys may be navigating unknown territory as racially identifiable people who cope with andnegotiate ways to avoid being stereotyped or judged by others, especially by White people.
Relationships with their White classroom teachers may be particularly fraught with difficulty
as these young Black boys experience racial challenges. To this end, it is important for allteachers, White teachers particularly, to be aware of potentially projecting racial stereotyping
or unthinking requirements onto students of color.
Detailed in this article is an exploratory study designed to examine White teachers’ interracial
attitudes regarding middle-school Black boys and to determine whether and how such attitudes
might influence classroom interactions. To meet this aim, I first describe how scholarly
literature addresses such key issues as racial stereotyping of Black males, White teacher-Black
student interracial relationships, and White privilege and Black under-privilege. I then describe
how I used the qualitative methods informed by grounded theory; these methods consisted of
fictionalized vignettes, a questionnaire, and unstructured interviews to collect data addressing
participants’ reactions to fictionalized teachers racial treatment of middle-school Black boys. I
1

I purposely use the terms “Black middle-school boys” and “White teachers” as taken from the American context
of social construct and multicultural education; these terms are used regularly in scholarly literature when
discussing race (Amos, 2010; McGrady & Reynolds, 2013; Noguera, 2003; Sleeter, 2004; Tatum, 2003).

199

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

thematically analyzed the data, looking for themes relevant to the participants’ expressed
attitudes toward the fictionalized teachers’ behavior and actions, along with their thoughts
about the middle-school Black boys’ real-life experiences presented in each of the fictionalized
vignettes. Finally, I present these results and discuss their implications.
Literature Review
Racial Stereotyping of Black Males
Halley, Eshleman, and Vijaya (2011) contend that stereotypes become discrimination as they
are expressed within key social institutions. Historically, Black males have been misinterpreted
and misunderstood in school, and they frequently are victims of stereotyping and outright
discrimination (Milner, 2013; Noguera, 2008). Young Black males, who may be more likely
than any other group to be subjected to negative stereotyping, receive clear messages about
their strengths, capacity, and “place.” Throughout their schooling, Black boys learn that they
may achieve success in sports, but that academic and scholarly success are neither expected ofthem nor deeply valued (Noguera, 2003, p. 445). In particular, Pauker, Ambady, andApfelbaum (2010) believed that these attitudinal evaluations can have a deep emotional effect.
The experience of marginalization is not abstract but is lived, experienced, and felt. This
internalization of stereotypes is what is meant by the term oppression, and it has strong
implications for understanding oppression and, ultimately, its resolution within social
institutions, especially schools. According to Kumashiro (2000):
The way that oppression may be addressed responds to the harmful dispositionsof the teachers, and involving teaching to all students. Researchers have argued
that educators need not only to acknowledge the diversity among their students,
but also to embrace these differences and to treat their students as raced,gendered, sexualized, and classed individuals (p. 28).
Kumashiro (2000) further indicates that teachers must begin to understand not only theexperience of marginalized youth, but of their own Whiteness if schools are to be lessoppressive places.
Racial stereotyping by teachers leads to actual declines in student performance (Okeke,
Howard, & Kurtz-Costes, 2009; Steele, 1997). The impact of stereotyping and oppression
provides a powerful explanation about why Black and Hispanic/Latino(a) students have higher
dropout rates at various educational stages than do White or Asian students (Woodcock,
Hernandez, Estrad, & Schultz, 2012). McGrady and Reynolds (2013) also found strong
evidence of a clear link between teacher bias and the performance of ethnic minority children.
They noted that biases toward Black students were particularly strong. Such researchers as
Copping, Kurtz-Costes, Rowley, and Wood (2013) and Okeke et al. (2009) contend that middle
school-aged Black students absorb racialized beliefs and internalize racial and associatedstereotypes due to the increased academic skill requirements in middle school and teacher
perceptions about their ability to meet these new challenges.
White Teacher-Black Student Interracial Relationships
For decades, social scientists and educators have discussed and debated the nature of classroom
relationships between White teachers and, in particular, Black male students. The phenomenonof racial differences between the two groups has been articulated by the above-mentioned

200

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017scholars as to how the differences of interracial interactions are played out in the classroom.
Amos (2010) noted that the majority of teachers in public schools are likely to remain White,just as schools are becoming more diverse. Given the prevalence of White teachers who areteaching diverse students, it is essential to understand their lived experiences of diversity in theclassroom. However, Milner (2011) found that “when attempting to engage in discussions
about race and racism, White teachers often shut down” (p. 80). According to Nile and Straton(2003), this shutting-down behavior and withdrawal into an attitude of helplessness can beconsidered a common reaction stemming from historical racial wrongs that White teachers may
feel badly about, potentially leading to a sense of racial guilt. Interestingly, McIntyre (1997)
observed that “White teachers have a belief that as teachers, they, as individuals, will be able
to control racism in their classrooms, thereby, affording them a sense of manageability over a
very difficult and complex issue” (p. 119). Furthermore, Milner (2011) indicates that there
could be a dismissive nature and avoidance in contact from White teachers with Black students
or any student in their classroom who is racially different from themselves.
Various factors, such as the compressed time between classes and the growing number ofstudents per class, are making it difficult for all teachers to establish close and supportive
relationships with their students (Ryan, Shim, & Makara, 2013). This is lamentable, as close
relationships with teachers are important in helping students feel good about their performanceand themselves. Teachers represent powerful relationships in the lives of children and have asubstantial impact on children’s identities. While building relationships with students is alreadychallenging, the complex dynamics of racial stereotyping and oppression can powerfully affectthe ability of Black children to connect with teachers and may impact their school and social
functioning (Irvine, 1991). Amos (2010) connected these difficulties to the need for expanded
multicultural training in teacher training programs.
White Privilege and Black Under-privilege
Over time, the labeling and referencing of such racial identifications as Negro, Colored, Black,and African American have suggested under-privilege. In the twentieth century, students ofcolor were taught about the history of the United States early in elementary school, but muchof that history reflected the domination of White Americans. Toward the end of the twentiethcentury into the twenty-first century, the nearly exclusive learning about White Americans andtheir involvement in U.S. history shifted for students of color. A general trend has developed
toward acknowledging a multicultural presence by providing students with multicultural
curricula where images of race are present and the history associated with these images aretaught. This multicultural focus also is being provided to teachers through professional
development training, thereby lessening the potential for racial guilt that Nile and Straton(2003) suggested some White teachers experience. The pedagogy of instruction is becoming
more inclusive. However, additional efforts are needed to enhance educators’ respectfulattention to racial differences. Sleeter (2008) made a key observation, which is essential tounderstanding an important aspect of this present study of “White privilege.” Sleeter expressedthat “White and people of color experience racial identity development due to occupying very
different positions in the racial order and, consequently, having very different experiences with
racism” (p. 83). These differences are connected inherently to what is being called “White
privilege.” Kendall (2013) noted that White privilege consists of an institutionally constructed
set of benefits given to those whose race and identities are represented by those in positions ofinstitutional power.

201

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

In general, the challenge with privilege, White or otherwise, is that it is not universal. McIntosh(1989) examined the privileges that White Americans have taken for granted. She looked at
White privilege using various situational vignettes to illustrate how White Americans havebeen advantaged with unchallenged autonomy in the United States. Unfortunately,
underprivileged individuals who are mostly members of marginalized groups often do not havethe luxury of an open door to opportunities, sometimes because of their skin color, and they
therefore experience racism throughout their lives from the dominant race.
The notions of privilege and under-privilege are important in understanding teacher-student
relationships. Croll (2013) expressed that the “attitudes about racial inequality in the UnitedStates often are viewed through the lenses of discrimination and disadvantage” (p. 47). Thus,
people may be inclined to disassociate themselves from such discrimination and disadvantage
by classifying themselves as “color blind,” which theoretically absolves them of any raciallyconnected behavior. Kendall (2013) observed the functional aspects of color blindness, which
serve to conceal the institutional inequities and racial stratifications of society. The notion ofcolor blindness has powerful implications for education. When teachers believe they do not see
color, even discussion of difference can be dismissed in the classroom. By failing to recognize
racial differences, some White teachers attempt to distance themselves from the history of
racial discrimination in the classroom and their possible subsequent feelings of racial guilt(Sleeter, 2004).
Color blindness prevents teachers – and institutions – from taking responsibility for their partin the perpetuation of racial inequalities and oppression. Nile and Straton (2003) assert that as
people allow themselves to take responsibility for their own behavior, they can let go of their
historically situated and contracted guilt. Such “colorblind” behavior by teachers can beinsulting to a student of color’s racial heritage and cultural self-identification. Indeed, Yu(2012) suggests that: “Race talk in the age of Obama is certainly more unpopular than everbefore. The norm of Whiteness [that] his campaigns and elections helped to uphold gains
strength every day and the efforts of minorities and their White allies to challenge White
privilege are increasingly difficult” (p. 49). With the transition of power between President
Obama and president-elect Trump, White privilege is likely to continue having a powerfulpresence given the return of a White president to the office in a divisive time of oppressive
rhetoric about social difference.
It is especially important that students of color feel safe in classrooms when White teachers are
an authority presence. As a corollary to the issue of teachers’ supposed color blindness, it ispossible that “when students trust that a White teacher authentically sees them as important,valuable, and intelligent people, they begin to respect and learn from that teacher, regardlessof his or her color” (Price, 2011, p. 273). It would be beneficial to both parties for teachers tohave a sense of self-awareness regarding what they believe and what they transmit to theirstudents of color in their interactions with them. To this end, it is crucial to explore questionsof: How self-aware are teachers regarding race and their front-line influence with students ofcolor? How can they become more self-aware throughout their careers?
Research Method
Methodological Framework
This research used a “grounded-theory informed” methodology (Annells, 2006). Groundedtheory informed methodologies do not conform completely to the original tenets of grounded202

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

theory as presented by Glaser and Strauss (1967), but instead are based upon key philosophicaland methodological assumptions of the approach (Burk, Danquah, & Berry, 2015; Padgett,
1998; Perez, Mubanga, Aznar, & Bagnol, 2015). This method recognizes the centrality of dataas the main source of theory construction or, in the case of much grounded-theory informed
research, themes (Furman, Langer, Sanchez, & Negi, 2007). While grounded-theory informed
research does not negate the importance of theory and literature in the development of questions
and hypotheses, it encourages researchers to use an open, inquisitive approach not driven by
previously selected themes and codes. Grounded-theory informed research studies use datacollection and analytical strategies based-upon their utility, in an inductive, theory- or themebuilding approach. While Strauss (1990) indicated that grounded theory is not always
inductive, in that theory testing can indeed be a part of the grounded theory processes, the focus
is on findings from one’s data (Berg, 2004). As such, I searched for identifiable themes fromthe data that could lead to a new understanding of White teachers’ self-awareness regarding
how they interact and should interact with middle school Black boys in the classroom setting(Aronson, 1995).
Location of the Study
Howard and Milner, as cited in Milner and Lomotey (2014) conceptualized three types of urban
communities – the urban intensive, urban emergent and urban characteristic – each withidentifiable qualities and thematic challenges. Although in this article I use the word urban todescribe the community where the study was conducted, Howard and Milner would describe
this school district as an urban emergent community in that it is located in a large city that issmaller than “major cities” (Milner, 2012, p. 560). Nonetheless, Howard and Milner (cited in
Milner & Lomotey, 2014) stated, “these cities are fraught with many of the same challenges asurban intensive schools, but not on the same scale” (p. 201). Given its location, I considered
the school to be a microcosm of the urban schools.
SampleThe study was approved by my college's institutional review board, and it used a purposive
sample from an urban middle school where my previously established professional relationshipwith the principal enabled access to the teachers. The principal and I met a few years prior tothis research study, and remained connected professionally. There existed between us a levelof professional trust that allowed me access into his school as a research site.
The school district had four elementary schools (K–5), two middle schools (6–8), a vocational
high school (9–12), a traditional high school (9–12), and two alternative schools for students
with special educational needs such as social/emotional and behavioral/academic disabilities.
At the time of the study, the middle school had sixty-five teaching faculty. The teachers’ racialbreakdown was 95.4% White and 4.6% Black. No other racial categories were identified. The
student population was comprised of six hundred 6th, 7th, and 8th graders with a racialbreakdown of 80.1% White; 9.3% Black; 6.5% Latino; and 4.1% Asian; no students wereidentified as Native American.
Twenty-four White teachers (N=24) voluntarily participated; 8 were males and 16 werefemales. Their ages ranged from 20–29 (4), 30–39 (5), 40–49 (7), and 50–59+ (8). They wereborn in the following decades: 1940s (10), 1950s (4), 1960s (3), and 1970s (7). The number ofmulticultural training courses taken were 0 (1), 1–3 (9), 3–5 (9), 5–7 (4) and 7–9 (1). At thetime of this study, participants lived in urban (7) and suburban communities (16), with one

203

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

participant providing no response (1) to this question. These demographics include the 10
interviewed participants who later engaged in one-to-one interviews.
Data Collection
The two instruments used for collecting data in this study were a questionnaire and unstructured
individual interviews. The rationale for using the two instruments was to intimately personalize
the attitudes of the participants and their reaction to their fictionalized colleagues’ racial
treatment of middle-school Black boys in the provided vignettes. I delivered sixty-five manila
envelopes containing an informed consent form and questionnaire to the middle-school
principal, who disseminated them to the teaching faculty’s mailboxes. Participants were given
72 hours to complete and return the questionnaire.
The first part of the questionnaire asked for demographic information; the second part offered
three vignettes regarding White teachers’ classroom relationships with middle-school Blackboys, each developed both from fictional aspects and my own professional experience. The
fictionalized vignettes were presented hypothetically to participants rather than as factual
events. One intention of the fictionalized vignettes was to encourage the participants to imagine
they were colleagues of the fictionalized teachers, thereby providing at least a tenuous
connection among them. The same three written, open-ended questions followed eachfictionalized vignettes, setting expectations that participants might respond in writing
differently from one case study to another. Two additional open-ended questions completed
the questionnaire and helped to contextualize the participants’ personal experiences withmiddle-school Black boys.
Because the vignettes were informed by my feelings about how White teachers may influence
young Black boys per my actual high school and professional social work experiences (Battle,
2016), there was the potential for my own bias to arise in how the fictional scenarios were
presented and in how I analyzed, interpreted, and integrated them into this report, as well as
into my own belief system (Creswell & Miller, 2000; Starks & Trinidad, 2007). To mitigate
such deleterious effects, I used a form of bracketing to separate my feelings from the data.
According to Tufford and Newman (2010), “given the sometimes close relationship between
the researcher and the research topic that may both precede and develop during the process ofqualitative research, bracketing is also a method to protect the researcher from the cumulative
effects of examining what may be emotionally challenging material” (p. 81). In essence, I
carefully reviewed the fictionalized vignettes for my bias, revising them as needed to present
the scenarios as objectively as possible. Additionally, as I analyzed and synthesized the data, I
talked with a mentor who helped me separate my feelings from what the participants said anddid during the study, better enabling me to examine and attempt to understand participants’expressed attitudes. These actions have helped me to be more objective about the study, leading
to potentially more useful implications for practice.
Questions Regarding the Fictionalized Vignettes
As mentioned, participants responded to the same three questions for each fictionalized
vignette and two additional final questions; the questions were intended to prompt participants
to articulate their attitudes toward the fictionalized White teachers’ relationships with middleschool Black boys in the classroom. Because the questions were asked in the second person, I
anticipated that participants would use the first person in their responses.

204

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

1. How would you react to the situation in the fictionalized vignette?
2. What do you think might be the underlying issue(s) with the teacher and thestudent in their interaction with each other in the fictionalized vignette?
3. When you read the fictionalized vignette, did it bring up any feelings for you(negative or positive)?
In addition, participants addressed two other questions that focused on their personal andprofessional relationships and experiences with middle-school Black boys.
1. Have you ever had any personal interaction with middle-school Black boys?
2. What has been your professional experience as a teacher working with middleschool Black boys? If none, please write “none.”The Fictionalized Vignettes
Although the fictionalized vignettes were presented to the participants as hypothetical, they
were not entirely fictitious and had genuine roots in my experience. Derived primarily fromboth my experiences as a school social worker and educator with the Metropolitan Council for
Educational Opportunities (METCO) Program Coordinator, the fictionalized vignettes
considered young, Black males in school settings. As such, there were inevitable connections
to my own past experiences as a Black male student. Of particular interest, the METCO
program is a voluntary desegregation program that was instituted by the Massachusetts
Department of Education in 1966. Today, it is called the Massachusetts Department ofElementary and Secondary Education. The purpose and perception of the program is based on
the quality of education and curriculum standards in predominately White suburban school
districts where students of color who reside in urban neighborhoods voluntarily attend school.
The program has assisted some suburban school districts with their racial imbalances bycreating a more diversified educational community.
Fictionalized Vignette One
A White, male, 8th grade Social Studies teacher at a suburban public middle school gave one of
the Black boys in his class an “Incomplete” grade for the second quarter. There were a total ofthree young Black boys in the class. The school social worker observed an interaction between
the student with the Incomplete and his teacher. He heard the teacher ask the student to stayafter school to make up work from the second quarter so that the teacher could remove theIncomplete from the student’s report card. The student agreed to remain after school. The social
worker later learned from the teacher that the student did not come. The teacher reported that
this was not the first time the student had not “shown up.”
The teacher requested a meeting with the guidance counselor, the student, and the social worker
to discuss the situation. At the meeting, the teacher acknowledged his disappointment. He feltthat he had been supportive, yet the student acted unconcerned. In the meeting, the teacher
spoke to the student with an irritated, raised voice:
I have tried really hard with you. I have tried harder with you than any of the otherstudents in my class. I have broken all of my rules to get you motivated to change
the Incomplete. I know being here as a METCO student in an all-White community
can be very hard. There are not many Black people (student or faculty) out here.
But attending school here is better than attending school in Boston. You might not

205

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

get the same attention if you went to school in Boston. You might get lost throughthe cracks. You have the potential to succeed much more here than in Boston. WHY
DON’T YOU DO WHAT I AM ASKING?
Fictionalized Vignette Two
There were two Black boys in a 7th grade Math class. One of the boys was ten minutes late forclass. The teacher, a White female in a suburban public middle school, had started the classwhen the student arrived late. After the teacher finished providing instruction, she asked thestudents to take out their homework from the previous night. She went around the classroom
with her grade book and marked whether the students did or did not do their homework. The
majority of the students had their homework; she refused to listen to the excuses of thosestudents who had not completed their homework, and she marked them accordingly in her
grade book. When the teacher approached the Black boy who had arrived late, she learned that
he did not have his homework. The teacher did not interrupt the student as he explained why
he did not have his homework. Without question, she accepted his excuse. After class, shewhispered to the student, “I did not give the other students this opportunity, but I will give you
the chance to bring in your homework first thing tomorrow morning before school begins.”
Fictionalized Vignette Three
A White, female, 6th grade English teacher in an urban, public, middle school was collecting
homework from her class. The teacher reviewed the homework and accused the only Blackboy student in her class of copying it from a student in another English class that she taught.
There were three young Black girls and two young Latino boys in the classroom as well.
The teacher publicly challenged the student in front of his classmates. The student did admitthat he had gotten help from his older sister (who was a 7th grader at the same school), but hesaid he did the work on his own. The teacher dismissed his explanation and asked him questions
to test his understanding about the homework assignment. The student was embarrassed andbecame upset. He began to cry in front of his classmates and put his head down on the desk
and remained in that position for the rest of the period.
Interviews
The second instrument used for the study consisted of unstructured, one and one-half hour long,individual interviews based on the same case studies and questions, as well as additional
responsive questions. Only ten teachers from the original 24 participants were chosen for theinterview, and the principal himself made the selections. He expressed that his main criterion
was his sense of the teachers' investment in their students’ lives. We discussed the importanceof his not selecting respondents that would represent a biased response to the questions,
whether the response was a positive or negative predisposition to the subject matter. Although
there was a risk of selection bias, he wanted an active role in both disseminating thequestionnaires and selecting teachers for the interviews. Based upon conversations with theprincipal, I believed his desire was to ensure the study’s success and not to push the findings
in a certain direction. The principal was the de facto gatekeeper of the school, which influenced
the political feasibility of conducting the study in his building; Buchanan and Bryman (2008)
astutely noted that research always has political actions involved. They suggested that accessto the field often mandates adapting research protocols to the needs of “the field.” Had I not

206

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017acquiesced to his request to be the gatekeeper, the principal might not have agreed to participate
in the study despite our professional relationship.
Data Analysis
Thematic data analyses were used to organize the findings by creating patterns and finding
themes consistent with the body of scholarly literature. According to Aronson (1995), “Themesthat emerge from the informants’ stories are pieced together to form a comprehensive pictureof their collective experience” (pp. 1-2). In the first stage, the responses were typed in boldprint and italicized for legibility purposes. In the second stage, a process of color-coding was
implemented to narrow and to define patterns and themes of responses. The emergence of thesepatterns and themes connected participants’ responses. Thematic categories, which to a degree
mirror the extant literature, included racial stereotyping of Black males, White teacher-Black
student interracial relationships, White privilege, and Black under-privilege. Finally, during
the third stage, an index and matrix were created to cross-reference the patterns and themes
relevant to the studied literature.
Results and Discussion
Fictionalized Vignettes One and Two asked participants to consider what they thought about
the White teachers’ attitudes and relationships with middle-school Black boys. Fictionalized
Vignette Three asked the same questions as One and Two, but the case it described appeared
to provoke more challenging responses. One might assume that participant-teachers responding
to a scenario involving another teacher might defend the teachers’ attitudes and actions,particularly given the encouragement to see these fictionalized teachers as colleagues. Instead,analyzed data from both instruments revealed that participants openly criticized the teachers’
relationships, behaviors, and attitudes with the middle-school Black boys. They not only gave
their interpretations of what had transpired between the two, but also expressed alternatives for
how to handle those incidents as if they were the White teacher in the case studies.
The following excerpts illustrate that there were no clear differences in participants’ written
responses to the case studies, in that all participants indicated they were disenchanted with how
the fictional teachers had acted toward the students. However, in the face-to-face interview
format, which allowed people to respond more personally and passionately than they could in
the written questionnaire format, the ten participants talked specifically about how they would
have acted as teachers, and their responses showed some differences among them. These
responses are categorized by the three major themes that emerged from the analysis and thatformed the basis for this article’s literature review.
Racial Stereotyping of Black Boys
The participants generally responded in both written and oral forms as White allies to the Blackboys, and they did not perpetuate or align with stereotypes in their responses despite thefictionalized White teachers’ stereotypical comments in the case studies. Participants’ written
and oral responses addressing stereotyping in Fictionalized Vignettes One and Two articulated
negative opinions of the fictional White teachers, suggesting that those teachers wereinsensitive in their treatment of the middle-school Black boys even though the teachers may
have had good intentions.

207

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

In his written response, one male participant wrote about Fictionalized Vignette One, “TheWhite teacher was probably honestly trying to help the student, but may have been masking
feelings that made the student feel that he was not up to par because of his racial identity.” Also
regarding Fictionalized Vignette One, another male participant wrote that his family andfriends provided him with seemingly false, stereotyped impressions of people frommarginalized groups. When the participant entered college, he independently developed a moresensitive attitude toward people of different races. This participant suggested that the vignettes’
White teachers’ stereotypical attitudes may have stemmed from a distinct period of time or
generational beliefs; he further suggested that the White teachers’ ages, birth years, andgeographic places of residence might have contributed to such attitudes.
In interviews regarding Fictionalized Vignette Two’s White teacher’s behaviors and feelings
toward the Black male student, participants used such phrases as “not good enough” and “notcapable.” A female participant expressed in the interview, “I’m sure that the White teacher has
given off messages that the middle-school Black boy was not as good enough as a White
student and therefore gave him preferential treatment [over] the other students in theclassroom.” A second female participant stated in her interview, “I would have supported theWhite teacher prior to meeting the student, but what the teacher said simply backed the middleBlack boy into a corner and possibly validated his feelings of not belonging and not being goodenough.”These teachers seemed to realize that even good intentions toward students can backfire when
the actions are wrong. As Milner (2012) stated regarding his research:
Teachers generally had good intentions, and although all of them seemed to struggle
to understand how to meet the needs of all their students most effectively, theirhearts seemed to be in the right place. Unfortunately, good intentions gone wrong
can dangerously affect students’ academic, intellectual, and social success, in boththe short and long term (pp. 162–163).
This study suggests that the participant teachers outside of this Boston school district would
agree.
White Teacher-Black Student Interracial Relationship
Thirteen of the 24 research participants expressed written concern for how the White teacher
in Fictionalized Vignette One used inappropriate statements with the middle-school Black boy
to make him feel inferior, “I have tried harder with you than any of the other students in myclass;” “I have broken all of my rules to get you motivated to change the Incomplete;” “…
attending school here is better than attending school in Boston;” and “You have the potential
to succeed much more here than in Boston. WHY DON’T YOU DO WHAT I AM ASKING?”
Participants indicated they wanted to be supportive of the White teacher because theyrecognized his frustration; however, 20 participants tended to resist supporting him and referred
to his comments as “uncalled for” or words to that effect. “I am angry” was a common response.
One person wrote: “Um, what’s going on here?” One male participant wrote:
The Black male student cannot be characterized with only example. Some students
are engaged and interested in learning. Others would prefer to be elsewhere.
Generally speaking, middle-school Black males have a clear sense of your sense of208

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

justice and whether or not you, as a teacher, are racist. When given trust and time,
students will open up and share their experiences about themselves.
Similarly, a female participant wrote about Fictionalized Vignette One:It seems to me that there is a lack of connection. Both student and teacher are atodds for whatever reason. Is the teacher not making himself accessible to thestudent? Did the student have a negative interaction with this teacher or others in
the past? Why is there a lack of comfort? What is the source of the student’s
ambivalence toward the teacher?
These responses do not suggest that participants are making excuses for the Black student orthat they totally blame the White teacher; rather, they indicate thoughtful concern about therelationship in a broader context than one failed interaction.
Participants expressed especially strong reactions to Fictionalized Vignette Three. All ten
participants interviewed articulated feelings of being “disturbed” and “appalled” by theircolleague’s behavior. One female participant said, “I am angered that the teacher humiliatedthe student in front of the class. I would have seen him privately. I am also angered that she
assumed the student copied from someone else’s work. That is racist. Maybe someone else
copied the student’s work.” Another female participant said:
Yikes! This woman should not be teaching! To address a student’s cheating in frontof a class, no matter what message you want to get across is not fair, not kind, notright. If she has some question about it, she should have asked separately. She
challenged the only Black male in the class. What does that mean?
Participants generally reacted with shock and anger at the insensitivity and cruel behavior of
the White teacher who perpetrated this encounter in front of the student’s peers. They expressedthat the student should have been allowed to remove himself from the situation to regain
composure. It seems possible that such responses may be attributed to the cultural training
courses that twenty-three out of the twenty-four respondents stated they had taken.
In this study, participants suggested that poorly executed disciplinary actions might be raciallymotivated by a belief that the student was incapable of doing the work. One participant
articulated in the interview how it felt when teachers are confronted with racial differences andlack cultural understanding; in such cases, he suggested, teachers might personalize thesituation to maintain control. Such ill-gained control can be costly to the student’s sense of self
as well as to the teacher’s own integrity.
White Privilege and Black Under-privilege
Notions of White privilege and Black under-privilege appear to have shaped the research
participants’ responses to White teachers’ attitudes in Fictionalized Vignette One primarily. In
their written and oral-interview responses, fifteen participants stated that the White teacher’sinteraction with the middle-school Black boy seemed hurtful and disrespectful and that notionsof privilege should be considered. One participant wrote:[Fictionalized Vignette] One reminds me of an incident that seems to speak to thesense of being privileged. When I was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, we had our first African209

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

American kid come into school. There wasn’t busing then – certainly not in
Oklahoma! – so the kid moved into the area with his family. The student was mainly
alone in the school and I remember another kid going up to him and trying tobefriend him in a really awkward way and the African American kid just kind ofsmiled and said “Thanks, but no thanks” and walked off. The White kid was
screaming at him in the hallway. “You know, I am just trying to be your friend andhelp you here and you’re snubbing me.” And then, of course, the “N” word cameout and everything started flying.
One wonders why the Black boy in this participant’s past was reluctant to accept the White
boy’s attempt to befriend him; did he know that lurking beneath the surface of the would-befriend’s outreach was the possibility of angry, racist name-calling? Was he simply afraid basedon past experience or wary based on being racially unique in the school?
According to Obidah and Teel (2001), “the distrust of White people is nurtured in every
African-American child as part of his or her ethos of existence in America” (p. 70). Obidah
stated, “As an African-American person, you ask yourself, ‘How can I trust someone who
thinks, consciously or subconsciously, that something is wrong with me to the extent that thissomething (tangible only in terms of physical difference) makes me an inferior human being?”(p. 70). This study’s data and results confirm Obidah’s belief that a felt-sense – if not a provenreality – of White privilege and Black underprivilege may affect a person of color who on somelevel is challenged by race daily. Indeed, a female participant orally stated regarding
Fictionalized Vignette One:I can understand how [the] teacher felt trying to make it so a child succeeds and tohave a kid not take that opportunity is sometimes flabbergasting. I’m concerned that
the White teacher has such a sense of privilege as indicated by his saying, “You’regoing to get a better education here (meaning suburbs) and you’d get lost in thecracks if you were somewhere else.” He could get lost through the cracks in thesuburbs, too, and maybe that’s why the teacher is so frustrated because he’s trying
to make sure that he doesn’t get lost through the cracks.
Desire for student success and even good intentions can fail when White teachers, like the one
in Fictionalized Vignette One, fail to realize the sense of privilege that may leak through theirattempts to help students of color, particularly young Black boys who already may have learned
not to trust their teachers’ words.
Implications for Practice
Implications for this study are framed by Singleton’s (2015) assertion that since Whites are theprimary beneficiary of racial privilege, they bear the primary responsibility for the perpetuationof racism within key social contexts and institutions. This observation suggests that the phrase“I don’t notice color” serves as a mechanism for a White teacher to suppress feelings regarding
the racial complexion and differences among their students in the classroom.
However, twenty-three of the twenty-four participants in this study indicated they had received
cultural and/or multicultural training. That many of the White teacher participants aligned
themselves with the Black students and not their White colleagues suggests the power ofmulticultural training. This study, then, supports such training as a corrective for school
districts where the leadership wants to achieve positive, supportive relationships with students

210

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017of color in the classroom. To this end, committing funding and time for in-service and outside
resources is vital.
Another option for providing and promoting anti-racism awareness is to employ consultants as
outside resources; such consultants should have extensive experience working in school
districts and especially with White teachers regarding race and racism, especially regarding
teachers’ relationships with Black males and how to incorporate teaching and learning of raceand racism into their classroom. Michael (2015) provided solid guidance for how such work
can occur:
Invite antiracist colleagues into you classroom to help you see your own culture andyour own biases. Ask them to give critical feedback, and thank them when they do.
Make time to work in small groups (pairs even) with people you trust. Use theseopportunities to ask the “untouchable” questions, the questions you are afraid toverbalize because of what they might say about you and begin to explore them (p.
41).
In short, teachers need opportunities to embrace the consultants’ feedback with open minds.
This approach in empowerment and vulnerability can better prepare and equip classroom
teacher for working effectively with students of color, particularly young Black boys.
At the beginning of this article, I asked how White teachers can become allies of middle-school
Black boys and whether they are able to see themselves as walking in these children’s shoes,
so to speak. Certainly, some White teachers allow their personal and professional backgrounds
to cause them to stigmatize groups of students from marginalized backgrounds. However, in
this study, the participants appeared to align themselves thoughtfully with the middle-school
Black boys rather than the White teachers of the case studies. Having an opportunity to stepback and examine their self-awareness regarding how they interact and engage with students’
racial differences can assist White teachers in being present and understanding of theirstudents’ differences in the classroom. Such self-reflection, which often is engendered incultural competence training, can be connected to awareness of the social and emotional needsof the students (Battle & Hill, 2016). Both initial and ongoing multicultural awareness andpractical training can provide useful ways of understanding and practical strategies for working
with students of color at any age – and particularly at this liminal preadolescent age that is
especially crucial for Black males. The potential benefits are powerful in assisting White
teachers and middle-school Black boys in improving their teacher-student relationship toestablish positive communication and expectations for both in the classroom.
Conclusions
Through the use of White teachers’ responses to case studies about White teachers and middleschool Black boys, this research offered a snapshot into the participants’ attitudes and theirreactions toward their fictionalized colleagues. The racial differences between the case studies’
White teachers and middle-school Black boys engendered views that were generally supportiveof the Black boys and critical of the White teachers regardless of the participants’ own racial
identities as White teachers. Participants’ responses varied but strongly indicated that theywould try to establish an agenda of academic success by maintaining a positive relationshipwith middle-school Black boys and by not showing misplaced anger or favoritism. Participants
expressed wanting to stay true to themselves as the classroom teacher by initiating equity for
all students. The participants’ criticism of the unequal treatment of student behavior by the211

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

White teachers in the fictionalized vignette indicates they believed that the fictional White
teachers' were perpetuating the stereotypical relationship with the described middle-school
Black boys.
The findings suggest that the participants were fairly astute in their education and knowledgeof the racial complexities of their students. Indeed, although I had hypothesized thatparticipants would align with the White teachers in each fictionalized vignette because of
potentially limited racial awareness and sensitivity to middle-school Black boys, the datastrongly indicated that participants were more allies to the children than not. Interestingly, someparticipants articulated that the White teachers may have feared being labeled “racist,”indicating racial identification as a possible reason for granting inequitable opportunities to the
middle-school Black boys. Nonetheless, the participants appeared to recognize that thisintention alone can be seen as racist because of subsequent preferential treatment.
Certainly, it would be beneficial for all teachers, especially White teachers who may have
limited experiences with cultural competence, to receive training for anti-racism/culturalcompetence that would enable them to engage students who are racially and ethnically different
from themselves in the classroom. Exploring and proposing policy changes for U.S. school
districts regarding establishing mandatory anti-racism/cultural competence training would be
essential and necessary for professional development of teachers. Advancing such proposed
policy could help to mitigate the racial and cultural disparity between White teachers and bothboy and girl students of color and it may help to improve their teacher-student classroom
interactions and relationships.
Limitations
The participants in the written questionnaire interpreted the three fictionalized vignettes in oneof two ways: as third-party observers and as first-person actors. The questions that followed
the vignettes were written in the second person (i.e., “What do you think?”) with the
expectation of eliciting first person responses. Some participants responded in the third person
without including much of their own experiences. However, other participants who answered
the questionnaire described their assessment of the teacher-student relationship by offering
their own experiences that were somewhat similar to the fictionalized vignettes, especially withthe oral interview responses. Overall, the intention of eliciting first-person responses within thequestionnaires was not achieved in the majority of the participants’ responses, which suggeststhat the wording of the questions may have limited the study’s results. However, this intention
was achieved within the interview phase, likely because of the intimacy of a face-to-facemeeting and the possibility of personal accounts of similar stories shared by the participants.
The selection of the ten participants for the interview phase of the study may have been done
from the principal’s own bias and/or agenda. The participants may have recognized theprincipal's investment in the study by his asking them personally to participant in a one-to-one
interview exchange with the researcher beyond responding to the questionnaire portion of thestudy. The participants may have felt comfortable filling out the questionnaire but not with theinterview. However, given the principal’s decision to choose interview participants, theauthoritarian school structure may have left participants feeling obligated to take part and it
may have influenced their responses.
As a qualitative study with a small sample size, it is not generalizable to a broader population.
Marshall, Cardon, Poddar, and Fontenot (2013) examined the justifications of eighty-three212

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

qualitative research studies; they recommended that “grounded theory qualitative studies
should generally include between 20 to 30 interviews” and that more than “the maximum [30][is] where additional interviews fail to produce substantial new insight” (p. 20). In the case ofthis study, had all sixty-five eligible teachers consented to participate in the questionnaire
portion, the study could have been challenged by repetitive information from participants thatoffered no new valid information based on the authors examination. With twenty-four total
participants, the study provided sufficiency in data, but had there been a few more interview
participants, the study might have provided greater insight into the problem.
Implications for Future ResearchThis study offers data and interpretation for developing a deeper appreciation of on-going,
challenging, and complex cross-racial teacher-student relationships. Additional research isneeded to determine more about how interracial differences impact the racial complexities
between White teachers and middle-school Black boys. For example, this exploratory study
was conducted in the northeastern U.S. It would be beneficial to discover whether the outcomes
would differ for participants of other school districts, as well as from other geographical areasof the country. Additionally, an understanding of student views versus teacher views needs
attention. Thus, a qualitative study of how middle-school Black boys experience their racialinteractions with White teachers would be useful for obtaining and presenting findings fromboth sides of the aisle for the two populations. A research method combining both interviews
and focus groups could be helpful. Such studies might consider whether the relationships
between White teachers and middle-school Black boys are more homogenous in the classroom
than suggested in some literature.
Additionally, this study addressed the teacher-student interracial relationship of White teacherswith middle-school Black boys in the classroom. A qualitative study using other methods orreplicating this research design should be conducted regarding other racial groups (e.g., Blackteachers and middle-school Black boys, Black teachers and middle-school White boys, White
teachers and middle-school Hispanic boys, Hispanic teachers and middle-school Hispanicboys). Any configuration of the racial construct between such groups might yield data helpful
in improving teacher-student interracial relationships in the classroom; such data could help
shape multicultural curricula training for pre-service White teachers within their educational
programs and for existing White teachers within their ongoing professional developmenttraining.

213

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

References
Amos, Y. T. (2010). “They don’t want to get it!” Interaction between minority and White preservice teachers in a multicultural education class. Multicultural Education, 17(4), 31–
37.
Annells, M. (2006). Triangulation of qualitative approaches: Hermeneutical phenomenology
and grounded theory. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 56(1), 55–61.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03979.x
Aronson, J. (1995). A pragmatic view of thematic analysis. The Qualitative Report, 2(1), 1–3.
Battle, S. (2016). Educating social work students through autoethnography: The racial profilingexperiences of a Black man” Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping.
Forthcoming.
Battle, S., & Hill, A. (2016). A qualitative study of BSW students' cultural competence
preparedness to uphold client dignity. Field Educator, 6(2), 1–17.
Berg, B. L. (2004). Qualitative research methods: For the social sciences. Pearson, New York.
Buchanan, D. A., & Bryman, A. (2009). Contextualizing methods choice in organizational
research.
Organizational
Research
Methods,
10(3),
483–501.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428106295046
Burk, E., Danquah, A., & Berry, K. (2015). A qualitative exploration of the use of attachment
theory in adult psychological therapy. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 23(2), 142–
154. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1943
Copping, K. E., Kurtz- Costes, B., Rowley, S. J., & Wood, D. (2013). Age and race differencesin racial stereotype awareness and endorsement. Journal of Applied Social Psychology,
43, 971–980. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12061
Creswell, J., & Miller, D. (2000) Determining validity in qualitative inquiry. Theory into
Practice, 39(3), 124–30. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip3903_2
Croll, P. R. (2013). Explanations for racial disadvantage and racial advantage: Beliefs aboutboth sides of inequality in America. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 36(1), 47–74.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2011.632426
Furman, R., Langer, C. L., Sanchez, T. W., & Negi, N, J. (2007). A qualitative study ofimmigration policy and practice dilemmas for social work students. Journal of Social
Work Education, 43(1), 133–146. https://doi.org/10.5175/JSWE.2007.200500532
Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory strategies for qualitative
research. Chicago: Adeline.
Griffith, A. R., & London, C. B. (1980). Student relations among inner city teachers: A
comparative study by teacher race. Education, 80(101), 139–147.
Halley, J., Eshleman, A., & Vijaya, R. M. (2011). Seeing White: An introduction to White
privilege and race. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

214

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Howard, T. C., & Milner, R. (2014). Teachers’ preparation for urban schools. In R. M. Milner& K. Lomotey (Eds.), Handbook of urban education. 199–216. New York, NY:
Routledge Taylor & Francis Group
Irvine, J. J. (1991). Black students and school failure. Westport, CT: Praeger.
Kendall, F. E. (2013). Understanding White privilege: Creating pathways to authentic
relationships across race. (2nd ed.). New York: NY: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Kumashiro, K. K. (2000). Toward a theory of anti-oppressive education. Review of Educational
Research, 70(1), 22–53. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543070001025
Marshall, B., Cardon, P., Poddar, A., & Fontenot, R. (2013). Does sample size matter inqualitative research? A review of qualitative interviews in is research. Journal ofComputer
Information
Systems,
54(1),
11–22.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2013.11645667
McGrady, P. B., & Reynolds, J. R. (2013). Racial mismatch in the classroom: Beyond BlackWhite
differences.
Sociologyof
Education,
86(1),
3–17.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0038040712444857
McIntosh, P. (1989, July/August). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. Peaceand Freedom, 10–12.
McIntyre, A. (1997). Making meaning of whiteness: Exploring racial identity with White
teachers. New York, NY: State University of New York Press.
Michael, A. (2015). Raising race questions: Whiteness & inquiry in education. New York, NY:
Teachers College Press.
Milner, H. R. (2011). But good intentions are not enough: Theoretical and philosophicalrelevance in teaching students of color. In J. G. Landsman & C. W. Lewis (Eds.), White
teachers/diverse classrooms: Creating inclusive schools, building on students’ diversity,and providing true educational equity. 56–74. New York, NY: New York Press.
Milner, H. R. (2012). But what is urban education. Urban Education, 47(3), 556–561.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085912447516
Milner, H. R. (2012). Start where you are, but don’t stay there: Understanding diversity,
opportunity gaps, and teaching in today’s classrooms. Cambridge, MA: Harvard
Education Press.
Milner, H. R. (2013). Why are students of color (still) punished more severely and frequently
than
White
students?
Urban
Education,
48(4),
483–489.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085913493040
Milner, H. R., & Lomotey, K. (2014). Handbook of urban education. New York, NY:
Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Nile, L. N., & Straton, J. C. (2003). Beyond guilt: How to deal with societal racism.
Multicultural Education, 10(4), 2–6.

215

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Noguera, P. A. (2003). The trouble with Black boys: The role and influence of environmental
and cultural factors on the academic performance of African-American males. Urban
Education, 38, 431–459. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085903038004005
Noguera, P. A. (2008). The trouble with Black boys: And other reflections on race, equity, andthe future of public education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Obidah, J. E., & Teel, K. M. (2001). Because of the kids: Facing racial and cultural differencesin schools. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Okeke, N. A., Howard, L. C., & Kurtz-Costes, B. (2009). Academic race stereotypes, academic
self-concept, and race and centrality in African American youth. Journal of Black
Psychology, 35(3), 366–387. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095798409333615
Padgett, D. K. (1998). Qualitative methods in social work research. Sage: New York.
Perez, G. M., Mubanga, M., Aznar, C.T., & Bagnol, B. (2015). Grounded theory: A
methodology choice to investigating labia minora elongation among Zambians in South
Africa. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(4), 52–68.
Pauker, K., Ambady, N., & Apfelbaum, E. V. (2010). Race salience and essentialist thinking
in racial stereotype development. Children Development, 81(6), 1799–1813.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01511.x
Price, V. C. (2011). I don’t understand why my African American students are not achieving:
An exploration of the connection among personal power, teacher perceptions, and theacademic engagement of African American students. In J. G. Landsman & C. W. Lewis(Eds.), White teachers/diverse classrooms: Creating inclusive schools, building on
students’ diversity, and providing true educational equity (pp. 269–283). Sterling, VA:
Stylus Publishing, LLC, 2nd edition.
Ryan, A. M. Shim, S. S., & Makara, K. A. (2013). Changes in academic adjustment andrelational self-worth across the transition to middle school. Journal Youth Adolescence43, 1372–1384. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964–013–9984–7
Samuels, S. M., Samuels, D. R., & Martinez, J. (2010). Privilege tag: Learning and transmitting
the concept of privilege. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 88–98.
Schaefer, R. T. (2013). Race and ethnicity in the United States (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson
Education, Inc.
Singleton, G. E. (2015). Courageous conversations about race (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA:
Corwin: A Sage Company.
Sleeter, C. (2004). How White teachers construct race. In G. Ladson-Billings & D. Gillborn(Eds.), The Routledge Falmer reader in multicultural education (pp. 163–178). New
York, NY: Routledge Falmer Taylor & Francis Group.
Sleeter, C. (2008). Learning to become a racially and culturally competent ally. In Teel, K. M
& Obidah, J. E. (Eds.), Building racial and cultural competence in the classroom:
Strategies from urban educators. 83. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

216

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Starks, H., & Trinidad, S. B. (2007). Choose your method: A comparison of phenomenology,
discourse analysis, and grounded theory. Qualitative Health Research 17(10), 1372–80.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732307307031
Steele, C. M. (1997). A threat in the air: How stereotypes shape intellectual identity andperformance. American Psychologist, 52, 613–629. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003066X.52.6.613
Strauss, A. L. (1990). Qualitative analysis for social scientists (2nd. ed). New York: Cambridge
University Press.
Tatum, B. D. (2003). “Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?”: And otherconversation about race. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Tufford, L., & Newman, P. (2010). Bracketing in qualitative research. Qualitative Social Work,11(1), 80–96. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325010368316
Williams, W. R., & Carter, K. A. (2014). Disadvantage and privilege in our schools: Howteachers, psychologists, and policymakers can do better. Analyses of Social Issues andPublic Policy, 14(1), 415–418 https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12045.
Woodcock, A., Hernandez, P.R., Estrad, M., & Schultz, P.W. (2012). The consequences ofchronic stereotype threat: Domain disidentification and abandonment. Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, 103(4), 635–646. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029120
Yu, T. (2012). "What is it that I don't know": Learning with white teachers in anti-racist
education. Multicultural Education, 19(14), 47–52.
Corresponding author: Stefan Battle
Email: sbattle@ric.edu

217

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017218

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Guide for Authors
Articles should be submitted through the online submission form in Microsoft Word format.
Before submitting your article, please ensure that it is prepared in accordance with the Author
Guidelines below.
For further information please also view details of the journal review process, copyright andlicencing policy, and publication ethics statement.
Submit: iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-education/manuscript-submission-form
Review process: iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-education/about
Copyright and licencing: iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-education
Publication ethics: iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-education/publication-ethics
If you have any queries about how to prepare your article for submission, please contact
publications@iafor.org.
Article Structure
Abstract
A concise and factual abstract is required (maximum length of 250 words). The abstract should
state briefly the purpose of the research, the principal results and major conclusions. An abstract
is often presented separately from the article, so it must be able to stand alone. For this reason,
references should be avoided, but if essential, then cite the author(s) and year(s). Also, nonstandard or uncommon abbreviations should be avoided, but if essential they must be definedat their first mention in the abstract itself.
Keywords
Immediately after the abstract, provide a maximum of 6 keywords.
Introduction
Present purposes of the study and provide background for your work.
Literature Review
Include a pertinent literature review with explicit international connections for relevant ideas.
Discuss the findings of published papers in the related field and highlight your contribution.
Methodology and Methods
Provide sufficient detail to allow the context of the work to be thoroughly understood and/or
for the work to be reproduced. Provide sufficient detail for readers to understand how you
engaged in your inquiry. Clear descriptions of your context and participants along withstrategies used to collect and analyze data should be described.
Discussion
This section should explore the significance of the results of the work, not repeat them.
Combining your results and discussion into a single section may be suitable. Returning to219

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

relevant literature from the introduction should show how your work connects with orinterrupts already published literature.
Conclusions
The main conclusions of the study may be presented in a Conclusions section, which can
include the main findings, the implications, and limitations.
Appendices
If there is more than one appendix, they should be identified as A, B, etc.
Acknowledgements
Collate acknowledgements in a separate section at the end of the article before the referencesand do not, therefore, include them on the title page, as a footnote to the title or otherwise. List
here those individuals who provided help during the research (e.g. providing language help,
writing assistance or proof reading the article, etc.).
Footnotes
Footnotes should be used sparingly. Number them consecutively throughout the article, using
superscript Arabic numbers.
References
Citation in Text
Please ensure that every reference cited in the text is also present in the reference list (and viceversa).
Reference Style
Within the text: Citations in the text should follow the referencing style used by the American
Psychological Association (APA). Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association, Sixth Edition, ISBN 978-1-4338-0561-5.
List at end of paper: References should be arranged first alphabetically and then further sorted
chronologically if necessary. Please single-space, and indent after the first line of each.
Reference to a journal publication:
Van der Geer, J., Hanraads, J. A. J., & Lupton, R. A. (2010). The art of writing a scientificarticle. Journal of Scientific Communications, 163, 51–59.
Reference to a book:
Strunk, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (2000). The elements of style. (4th ed.). New York: Longman(Chapter 4).
Reference to a chapter in an edited book:
Mettam, G. R., & Adams, L. B. (2009). How to prepare an electronic version of your article.
In B. S. Jones, & R. Z. Smith (Eds.), Introduction to the electronic age (pp. 281–304). New
York: E-Publishing Inc.
For more details about referencing, please read our APA referencing style guide:
iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-education/apa-referencing-style220

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

Please follow the style checklist:• APA referencing style.
• 12-point Times New Roman font.
• All paragraphs and body text justified and single-spaced.
• One line should separate paragraphs or sections. Do not indent paragraphs.
• Set page size to A4.
• Margins: Microsoft Word "Normal" (2.54 cm).
• There is no word or page limit. Generally, published articles are 20–25 pages in length.
• Main headings, subheadings and sub-subheadings should be formatted as per thetemplate on the Author Guidelines page of the journal website. No more than threelevels of headings should be included.
• All figures must be inserted in a JPEG image format, within the page margins. Centre
images. Do not insert loose objects such as arrows, lines, or text boxes. Number andcaption below the figure (Figure 1: Caption), centre aligned.
• Tables should be created within the Microsoft Word document, should fit onto one A4
page and should be numbered and captioned below the table, centre aligned.
• Bold any section/paragraph headers and left align.
• Do not use any page headers, footers or page numbers (footers are acceptable if they
contain footnotes).
• Use only portrait layout. Do not include any pages in landscape layout.
• Corresponding author contact email address should be added to the end of the paper
after references. IAFOR is not responsible for unsolicited emails received.
• Optional: Acknowledgements (max. 150 words) to be included as the last section before
reference list.
• References to be single-spaced (indented after first line of reference).
• Title page information to include:o Title of the paper.
o Author names and affiliations: Provide authors' affiliation details (where the work
was done) including full institution name and country.
o Abstract: A concise and factual abstract not exceeding 250 words is required.
o Keywords: Immediately following the abstract provide a minimum of three
keywords.
Resources
Rules of Thumb for Writing Research Articles by Tomislav Hengl and Michael Gould:
thesishub.org/rules-of-thumb-for-writing-research-articles
The IAFOR Journal of Education is indexed in DOAJ, ERIC, EBSCO Discovery Service,
Education Source, MIAR, SHERPA/RoMEO and Google Scholar. DOIs are assigned to eachpublished issue and article via Crossref.
APA referencing style: iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-education/apa-referencing-style
Submissions for Volume 6 Issue 1 open on October 1, 2017.

221

IAFOR Journal of Education

Volume 5 – Issue 2 – Summer 2017

the iaforjournal of education

ISSN: 2187-0594
220