FACTORS OF EFFECTIVENESS IN SCIENCE TEACHING AND THEIR APPLICATION TO THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN OHIO'S PUBLIC SECONDARY' SCHOOIS DISSERTATION P resented in P a rtia l F u lfillm en t o f the Requirem ents for the Degree Doctor o f Philosophy in the Graduate School o f The Ohio S ta te U n iversity Volume I By WARREN MAYWOOD DAVIS, B. A ., A. M. The Ohio S ta te U n iversity 1952 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I w ish to acknowledge with thanks the assistan ce which has been given by so many people in the preparation o f th is d isserta tio n and in the study which led to i t . While i t is not p ossib le to name a ll of those who helped, the contributions o f several have been so great as to require p articu lar m ention. To Mr. R. M. G arrison, D irector o f Elementary and Secondary Edu­ cation of the Ohio S tate Department o f Education and to h is s ta ff including Mr. L. L. Louthian, Mr. Glenn Rich, Mr. W alter Garland, and Mrs. Moma Larrick, sp e cia l thanks are due for the assistan ce given in opening the records o f the Department and fo r even more d irect help. The advice given by Dr. P h ilip Johnson and Dr. Edgar Martin o f the United S tates O ffice o f Education was invaluable. Without the expert counsel o f these two men, both versed in obtaining inform ation by the use of mass media, the preparation and circu lation of the questionnaires which were used would have been much more d iffic u lt and le s s p ro fita b le. I t is im possible to forget the understanding and kindness o f Dr. Laura Z irbes, who did so much toward keeping the study value- centered and who was always ready to help even though i t meant sa crificin g tim e which she needed badly fo r other work. The advice given by Dr. Earl Anderson during the ea rlier stages o f the in v e sti­ gation is g ra tefu lly remembered. To Dr. Harold B. A lberty there i i 921*726 is extended a sp ecia l feelin g of gratitude fo r his carefu l an alysis o f the problem and for h is assistan ce in strengthening the fin a l report* He gave much help and gave i t when i t was most needed. W ithout the assistan ce aid guidance of Dr. G. P. Cahoon, th is study would not have been p o ssib le. The en tire p oin t of view o f th e report has been a ffected by the years spent w ith him. He has seen more clea rly than have most people the need for teachers who are competent and e ffe c tiv e . This inquiry into teacher e ffe c tiv e ­ ness has been an outgrowth o f my association w ith him. F in a lly , to my w ife, who has aided and a ssisted at every step of the way, there is presented a h ea rtfelt "thank you." W. M. D. i i i TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 1 II METHODS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES . . . . EMPLOYED............................................................................................. 11 III RELATED STUDIES AND A REVIEW O F .................................. THE LITERATURE................................................................................ 21 IV FACTORS RELATED TO THE EFFECTIVENESS. . . . OF A LEARNING SITUATION IN SECONDARY . . . . SCIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 V THE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE OF SCIENCE . . . TEACHERS IN OHIO’S PUBLIC SECONDARY . . . . SCHOOLS............................................................................................ . 171 VI PHYSICAL CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE . . . . SCIENCES WERE TAUGHT IN OHIO'S SCHOOLS . . . 258 VII AREAS OF TEACHING AND TEACHING LOAD OF . . . THE SCIENCE TEACHERS IN OHIO'S PUBLIC . . . SECONDARY SCHOOLS . ................................................................ V III PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES OF . . . OHIO'S SCIENCE TEACHERS ................................................ U5U IX TEACHING METHODS USED BY OHIO'S SCIENCE. . TEACHERS— THEIR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES . . FOR THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE...........................................................£17 X EFFECTIVENESS OF A SAMPLING OF OHIO'S SCIENCE . TEACHERS AS JUDGED BY PERSONAL INVESTIGATION . 577 XI INTERPRETATION OF THE FACTORS O F .................................. EFFECTIVENESS AS APPLIED TO SECONDARY- . . . SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHING......................................................................600 XII CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................6?8 APPENDIX....................................................................... 689 BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................... 700 AUTOBIOGRAPHY ......................................................................719 iv LIST OP TABLES TABLE PAGE I NUMBER OF QUESTIONNAIRES SUBMITTED.................................................................................. 97 II RESPONSE TO FACTOR 1......................................................... 99 III RESPONSE TO FACTOR I I .................................................... 103 IV RESPONSE TO FACTOR III.................................................... 105 V RESPONSE TO FACTOR I V .................................................... 110 VI RESPONSE TO FACTOR V......................................................... 115 VII RESPONSE TO FACTOR V I ......................................... 11 v VIII RESPONSE TO FACTOR V II................................................... 12.2 IX RESPONSE TO FACTOR V I I I .............................................. 125 X RESPONSE TO FACTOR IX. . 128 XI RESPONSE TO FACTOR X................................................... . 131 XII RESPONSE TO FACTOR X I .................................................... 134 XIII RESPONSE TO FACTOR XII.................................................... 139 XIV RESPONSE TO FACTOR X I I I ............................................. 142 XV RESPONSE TO FACTOR X I V ............................................. 146 XVI RESPONSE TO FACTOR XV...................................................... 151 XVII RESPONSE TO FACTOR XVI.................................................... 154 XVIII RESPONSE TO FACTOR X V II......................................... . 15? XIX NUMBER, SEX, AND DISTRIBUTION OF OHIO'S SECONDARY TEACHERS ............................................................ 173 LIST OF TABLES (continued) TABLE PAGE XX DEGREES OFFERED BY TEACHERS IE OHIO'S COUNTY SCHOOLS ...................... 175 XXI _ DEGEEES OFFERED BY TEACHERS IN EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOLS............................... 176 XXII DEGREES OFFERED BY TEACHERS IN OHIO'S CITY SCHOOLS ........................... 177 XXIII DATE OF MOST RECENT DEGREE OFFERED BY TEACHERSCF OHIO'S COUNTY SCHOOLS.......... 179 XXIV PERCENT OF TEACHERS IN OHIO'S COUNTIES WHO TAUGHT ONE OR MORE CLASSES OF SCIENCE WHO OFFERED THEIR HIGHEST DEGREE IN CERTAIN YEAR.................................. 180 XXV DATE OF MOST RECENT DEGREE OFFERED BY TEACHERS OF OHIO'S EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOLS......................................................................... 181 XXVI PERCENT OF TEACHERS IN OHIO'S EXi- EMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOLS, OFFERING THEIR HIGHEST DEGREE IN CERTAIN YEARS . . 182 XXVII DATE OF MOST RECENT DEGREE OFFERED BY TEACHERS OF OHIO'S CITY SCHOOLS . . . . 183 XXVIII PERCENT OF TEACHERS IN OHIO'S CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO TAUGHT ONE OR MORE CLASSES OF SCIENCE OFFERING THEIR HIGHEST DEGREE IN CERTAIN YEARS.......... 18^ XXIX NUMBER OF YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE OF TEACHERS IN OHIO'S COUNTY SCHOOLS. . . 189 XXX PERCENTS OF MEN AND OF WOMEN TEACHERS IN OHIO'S COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVING TAUGHT VARIOUS NUMBER. OF YEARS............................... 190 XXXI NUMBER OF YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE OF TEACHERS IN OHIO'S EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOLS.................................................... 191 LIST OF TABLES (continued) TABLE PAGE XLI PERCENT OF MEN AND OF WOMEN SCIENCE TEACHERS IN THE VARIOUS TYPES OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF OHIO WHO HAD -OBTAINED AT LEAST A MASTER1S DEGREE . . . 202 XLI I RECENCY OF TRAINING OF MEDIAN SCIENCE TEACHERS IN THE VARIOUS CLASSES OF OHIO'S SECONDARY SCHOOLS AS JUDGED BY DATE OF MOST RECENT DEGREE......................................................................................... 204 XLI 11 RANKING OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF OHIO'S SECONDARY SCIENCE TEACHERS ACCORD*. ING TO THE PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS AMONG THEM WHO HAD NO DEGREE AWARDED SINCE 1920................................................................................. 205 XLIV NUMBER OF YEARS TAUGHT BY MEDIAN TEACHERS OF SCIENCE IN THE THREE TYPES OF OHIO SECONDARY SCHOOLS............................ 20? XLV TOTAL NUMBER OF SEMESTER HOURS OF CREDIT IN ALL TYPES OF SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS OFFERED BY OHIO'S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO TAUGHT AT LEAST ONE CLASS OF SCIENCE........................... 209 XLVI NUMBER OF SEMESTER HOURS OF SCIENCE LISTED BY 1470 COUNTY TEACHERS OF OHIO IN THE MAJOR AREA OF SCIENCE TEACHING.................................................................................... 211 XLVII SEMESTER HOURS OF CREDIT IN BIO­ LOGICAL SCIENCES OFFERED BY OHIO'S COUNTY HIGHSCHOOL TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OF SCIENCE TEACHING WAS BIOLOGY. ..................................................... . 213 XLVIII SEMESTER HOURS OF CHEMISTRY OFFERED BY OHIO'S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OF SCIENCE TEACHING WAS CHEMISTRY..................................................................... 214 v iii LIST OF TABLES (continued) TABLE PAG-E XLVIX SEMESTER HOURS OF PHYSICS OFFERED BY OHIO'S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OF SCIENCE TEACHING WAS PHYSICS................................................. 215 L SEMESTER HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OFFERED BY OHIO'S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO TAUGHT ONE OR MORE CLASSES OF SCIENCE...................... 217 LI SEMESTER HOURS OF CREDIT IN ALL TYPES OF SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS OFFERED BY OHIO'S EXEMPTED VILLAGE TEACHERS WHO TAUGHT AT LEAST ONE CLASS OP SCIENCE . . 213 LI I NUMBER OF SEMESTER HOURS OF SCIENCE LISTED BY 207 EXEMPTED VILLAGE TEACHERS OF OHIO IN THEIR MAJOR AREA OF SCIENCE TEACHING...................................... 219 LIII SEMESTER HOURS OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES OFFERED BY EXEMPTED VILLAGE TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OF SCIENCE TEACHING WAS IN BIOLOGY......................................... 220 LIV SEMESTER HOURS OF CHEMISTRY OFFERED BY OHIO'S EXEMPTED VILLAGE TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OF SCIENCE TEACHING WAS CHEMISTRY.................................................................... 221 LV SEMESTER HOURS OF PHYSICS OFFERED BY OHIO'S EXEMPTED VILLAGE TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OF SCIENCE TEACHING WAS PHYSICS......................................................................... 2?i LVI SEMESTER HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CREDIT OFFERED BY 20? EXEMPTED VILLAGE TEACHERS OF SCIENCE.................................................................................... 222 LVI I SEMESTER HOURS IN ALL TYPES OF SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS OFFERED BY 864 OHIO CITY SCIENCE TEACHERS IN THE PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS...................... 223 ix LIST OP TABLES (continued) TABLE PAGE LVI 11 SEMESTER HOURS OP SCIENCE- LISTED BY 864 OHIO CITY TEACHERS OP SCIENCE IN THE AREA OP THEIR MAJOR SCIENCE TEACHING EPPORT ........................................... 224 LIX SEMESTER HOURS OP BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE OFFERED BY OHIO'S CITY TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OP SCIENCE TEACHING WAS IN BIOLOGY . . . . . 225 LX SEMESTER HOURS OP CHEMISTRY OPPERED BY OHIO'S CITY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OP SCIENCE TEACHING WAS IN CHEMISTRY........................................................... 226 LXI SEMESTER HOURS OP PHYSICS OPPERED BY OHIO'S CITY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OP SCIENCE TEACHING WAS IN THE AREA OP PHYSICS................................... 22? LXII SEMESTER HOURS OP PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OPPERED BY 864 CITY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS OP SCIENCE IN OHIO. . „ . 223 LXI II TOTAL NUMBER SEMESTER HOURS OP CREDIT IN ALL TYPES OP SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS OFFERED BY 25*1-1 TEACHERS IN OHIO'S HIGH SCHOOLS WHO TAUGHT ONE OR MORE CLASSES IN SCIENCE * ................................. 229 LXIV SEMESTER HOURS OP SCIENCE CREDIT, LISTED BY 2541 OHIO TEACHERS OF SECONDARY SCIENCE IN THE MAJOR AREA OP .THEIR SCIENCE TEACHING EPPORT........................................................................................ 230 LXV SEMESTER HOURS OP BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES OPPERED BY 693 OHIO HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OP SCIENCE TEACHING WAS IN BIOLOGY . . . 231 LIST OF TABLES (continued) TABLE PAGE LXVI SEMESTER HOURS IE CHEMISTRY OFFERED BY 26b OHIO HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OF SCIENCE TEACHING WAS IN CHEMISTRY . . . = 232 LXVTI SEMESTER HOURS OF PHYSICS OFFERED BY 312 OHIO HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS WHOSE MAJOR AREA OF SCIENCE TEACHING WAS IN PHYSIOS ................................................................... 233 LXVIII SEMESTER HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CREDITS OFFERED BY 25^1 HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS OF OHIO WHO TAUGHT ONE OR MORE CLASSES OF SCIENCE ......................................................... 23 A- LXIX NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS TEACHING ONE OR MOEE CLASSES OF SCIENCE WHO PRESENTED COLLEGE TRAINING IN ONLY ONE SUBJECT MATTER BRANCH OF SCIENCE.............................................................. 236 LXX SEMESTER HOURS OF ALL TYPES OF SCIENCE OFFERED BY 802 OHIO COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, EACH OF WHOM TAUGHT AT LEAST ONE CLASS OF GENERAL SCIENCE ...................................................................................... 23S IXXI SEMESTER HOURS OF UNDIFFERENTIATED SCIENCE OFFERED BY TEACHERS OF GENERAL SCIENCE IN OHIO*S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS* • » » • • * 239 LXXII SEMESTER HOURS OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE OFFERED BY THE COUNTY TEACHERS OF GENERAL SCIENCE LISTED IN TABLE L III. . . 2L0 LXXIII SEMESTER HOURS OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE OFFERED BY THE COUNTY TEACHERS OF GENERAL SCIENCE LISTED IN TABLE L III. . . 2^2