Skip to main content
Log in

Validation of Attitudes and Beliefs on Classroom Control Inventory among Beginning Teachers in Singapore Schools

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Teachers’ attitudes and beliefs on classroom management contribute significantly to student learning and development. Despite its importance, research in this aspect, however, has still been stymied by the difficulty of measuring teachers’ classroom management attitudes and beliefs. Psychometrically sound instruments to measure teachers’ classroom management attitudes and beliefs are still unavailable for use in Asian classrooms. In view of such reality, this study was intended to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Attitudes and Beliefs of Classroom Control Inventory-Adapted (ABCC-A) in Singapore schools. Construct validation of ABCC-A was conducted in three studies. Participants’ responses to the 27-item ABCC inventory from the first-phase data collection (N = 512) were used in study 1 and study 2. Participants and their responses to the revised ABCC-A inventory from the second-phase data collection were used in study 3. In study 1, half of the first-phase data collection sample (N 1 = 259) was randomly selected for the exploratory factor analysis and reliability test. In the study 2, the other half of first-phase sample (N 2 = 253) will be used for the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) test. In study 3, participants (N 3 = 41) who completed the revised ABCC-A, teacher efficacy scale, and questionnaire on teacher interaction questionnaires in the second-phase data collection will be used for convergent and discriminate validity tests. The CFA of ABCC-A revealed a good model fit of instruction management and people management subscales and acceptable evidence of invariance among different groups of beginning teachers in Singapore primary and secondary schools.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barber, B. K., Olsen, J. E., & Shagle, S. C. (1994). Associations between parental psychological and behavioral control and youth internalized and externalized behaviors. Child Development, 65, 1120–1136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berman, P., McLaughlin, M., Bass, G., Pauly, E., & Zellman, G. (1977). Federal programs supporting educational change. Vol. VII: Factors affecting implementation and continuation (Report No. R-1589/7-HEW). Santa Monica: The Rand Corporation (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. 140432).

  • Bowers, C. A., & Flinders, D. J. (1990). Responsive teaching: An ecological approach to classroom patterns of language, culture, and thought. New York: Teachers College.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brophy, J. (1988). Educating teachers about managing classrooms and students. Teaching and Teacher Education, 4(1), 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burden, P. R. (2005). Powerful classroom management strategies: Motivating students to learn. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J. J. (1995). The perceptions of teachers and fourth grade students from China, Taiwan, and US towards classroom management strategies. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

  • Crow, N. (1991). Personal perspectives on classroom management. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL (Eric Document Reproduction Service No. ED 332959).

  • Evertson, C. M., & Weinstein, C. S. (2006). Handbook of classroom management: Research, practice, and contemporary issues. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gencer, A. S., & Cakiroglu, J. (2007). Turkish pre-service science teachers’ efficacy beliefs regarding science teaching and their beliefs about classroom management. Teaching and Teacher Education, 23, 664–675.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, S., & Dembo, M. H. (1984). Teacher efficacy: A construct validation. Journal of Educational Psychology, 76(40), 569–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Good, T. L., & Brophy, J. E. (2006). Looking in classrooms (8th ed.). New York: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henson, R. K. (2003). Relationships between preservice teachers’ self-efficacy, task analysis, and classroom management beliefs. Research in the Schools, 10(1), 53–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jang, H., & Jeon, S. (2008). Issues in autonomy support and structure: Understanding their relationship. Symposium paper presented at annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York.

  • Jones, V. F., & Jones, L. S. (1998). Comprehensive classroom management: Creating communities of support and solving problems (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1971). Psychological types, collected works. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • LePage, P., Darling-Hammond, L., Akar, H., Gutierrez, C., Jenkins-Gunn, E., & Rosebrock, K. (2005). Classroom management. In L. Darling-Hammond & J. Bransford (Eds.), Preparing teachers for the real world: What teachers should learn and be able to do (pp. 327–357). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R., Romi, S., Katz, Y. J., & Qui, X. (2008). Students’ reaction to classroom discipline in Australia, Israel and China. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24, 715–724.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, S. D. (2004). Finding balance: Impact of classroom management conceptions on developing teacher practice. Teaching and Teacher Education, 20(5), 405–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, N. K., & Baldwin, B. (1992). Beliefs regarding classroom management Style: The differences between preservice teachers and experienced teachers. Paper presented at the meeting of the Mid-South Educational Research Association, Knoxville.

  • Martin, N. K., & Baldwin, B. (1993). An examination of the construct validity of the inventory of classroom management style. Paper presented at the meeting of the Mid-South Educational Research Association, New Orleans.

  • Martin, N. K., & Sass, D. A. (2010). Construct validation of the behavior and instructional management scale. Teaching and Teacher Education, 26(5), 1124–1135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, N. K., Yin, Z., & Baldwin, B. (1998). Construct validation of the attitudes and beliefs on classroom control inventory. Journal of Classroom Interaction, 33(2), 6–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, N. K., Yin, Z., & Mayall, H. (2006). Classroom management training, teaching experience and gender: do these variables impact teachers’ attitudes and beliefs toward classroom management style? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwest Educational Research Association, Austin.

  • Martin, N. K., Yin, Z., & Mayall, H. (2007). The attitude and beliefs on classroom control inventory–revised and revisited: A continuation of construct validation. Journal of Classroom Interaction, 42(2), 11–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCaslin, M., & Good, T. L. (1992). Compliant cognition: The misalliance of management and instructional goals in current school reform. Educational Researcher, 21(3), 4–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin, H. (1991). Reconciling care and control: Authority in classroom relationship. Journal of Teacher Education, 42, 182–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholls, D., & Houghton, S. (1995). The effects of canter’s assertive discipline program on teacher and student behavior. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 65, 197–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nie, Y., & Lau, S. (2008). Control and Care: The complementary roles in classroom management. Paper presented in the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York.

  • Nie, Y., & Lau, S. (2009). Complementary roles of care and behavioral control in classroom management: The self-determination theory perspective. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 34, 185–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, V. (1996). The role of attitudes and beliefs in learning to teach. In J. Sikula, T. Buttery, & E. Guyton (Eds.), Handbook of research on teacher education (2nd ed., pp. 102–119). New York: Simon & Schuster Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritter, J. T., & Hancock, D. R. (2007). Exploring the relationship between certification sources, experience levels, and classroom management orientations of classroom teachers. Teaching and Teacher Education, 23(7), 1206–1216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savran, A., & Cakiroglu, J. (2003). Differences between elementary and secondary pre-service teachers’ perceived efficacy beliefs and their classroom management beliefs. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 2(4), 15–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shin, S., & Koh, M. S. (2007). A cross-cultural study of teachers’ beliefs and strategies on classroom behavior management in urban American and Korean school systems. Education and Urban Society, 39(2), 286–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smart, J. (2009). A case study of an Italian teacher’s behavior management beliefs, practices, and related classroom interactions. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego.

  • Unal, Z., & Unal, A. (2012). The impact of years of teaching experience on the classroom management approaches of elementary school teachers. International Journal of Instruction, 5(2), 41–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urich, S. L., & Tobin, K. (1989). The influence of a teacher’s beliefs on classroom management. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

  • Veenman, S. (1984). Perceived problems of beginning teachers. Review of Educational Research, 54(1), 51–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfgang, C. H., & Glickman, C. D. (1986). Solving discipline problems: Strategies for classroom teachers (2nd ed.). New York: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wubbels, T., Brekelmans, M., & Hooymayers, H. P. (1991). Interpersonal teacher behaviour in the classroom. In B. J. Fraser & H. J. Walberg (Eds.), Educational environments: Evaluation, antecedents and consequences (pp. 141–160). London: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Choon Lang Quek.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Quek, C.L., Liu, C., Kang, S. et al. Validation of Attitudes and Beliefs on Classroom Control Inventory among Beginning Teachers in Singapore Schools. Asia-Pacific Edu Res 24, 157–168 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-013-0168-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-013-0168-8

Keywords

Navigation