Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Teachers’ Attitudes Towards People Who Stutter: Results of a Mail Survey

 
Author(s) Farzan Irani
Rodney Gabel
Volume 32
Number 3
Year 2008
Page(s) 129-134
Language English
Category
Keywords semantic
differential
scale
teachers
attitudes
people
who
stutter
Abstract This study assessed schoolteachers’ attitudes toward people who stutter (PWS) and also explored the effect of familiarity and educational factors on teachers’ attitudes toward PWS. A 14-item semantic differential scale was used to measure teachers’ attitudes towards PWS as compared to fluent speakers. The responses from 178 teachers were analyzed with regards to the teachers’ level of experience with PWS and their previous coursework on stuttering. The results indicated that the teachers reported positive attitudes towards both PWS and fluent speakers. The scores on the semantic differential scale indicated that the PWS were judged more positively for three items. Educational and experiential factors were found to have no systematic effect on the teachers’ attitudes toward PWS. Future research is needed to further investigate societal stereotypes and biases related to fluency disorders.

La présente étude a évalué l’attitude d’enseignants et d’enseignantes envers les bègues ainsi que l’effet des facteurs de familiarité et de sensibilisation aux troubles de la fluence sur leur attitude envers les bègues. On a utilisé une échelle de différentiation sémantique en 14 points pour mesurer les attitudes des enseignants et enseignantes envers les bègues par opposition aux enfants qui ne bégaient pas. On a analysé les réponses de 178 enseignants pour voir leur niveau d’expérience auprès des bègues et leur formation sur le bégaiement. Les résultats indiquent que les enseignants disent avoir une attitude positive autant envers les enfants bègues que les autres enfants. Les pointages obtenus à l’échelle de différentiation sémantique montrent que les bègues étaient jugés plus favorablement pour trois éléments. On a remarqué que l’éducation et l’expérience n’avaient pas d’effet systématique sur les attitudes des enseignants et des enseignantes envers les bègues. Il faut approfondir la recherche pour examiner les stéréotypes et les biais de la société relatifs aux troubles de fluidité.
Record ID 967
Link https://cjslpa.ca/files/2008_CJSLPA_Vol_32/No_03_109-140/Irani_Gabel_CJSLPA_2008.pdf
 

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