Predictors of Educator’s Valuing of Systematic Inquiry in Schools

Abstract

This exploratory survey study of 310 educators was conducted to investigate what variables best predict educators’ attitudes toward systematic inquiry in schools. Eight variables were selected as potential predictors of educators’ self-reported views about applied research utility and relevance, their personal ability to do research, the need for teacher involvement in systematic inquiry, and teacher training in research methods. Significant proportions of the variance in the dependent variables were explained by prior participation in research and personal teacher efficacy. Years of experience teaching, perceived organizational learning capacity of respondents’ schools, and the panel in which respondents taught had modest explanatory value. Results are discussed in terms of our knowledge and understanding of teacher receptiveness to systematic inquiry in schools and implications for research and practice.