Classroom Incivilities: Students Perceptions About Professors Behaviors

Abstract

A learning environment is a social one, and as a social environment it impacts what learners retain, how they form ideas, and what connections are made and lost when acquiring new skills and knowledge (Goleman, 2006). Today’s college students’ expectations for and perceptions of professors in the classroom are likely to influence their learning environments. This paper reports on the development of a 56-item instrument, the Student Perceptions of Professor Behavior (SPPB), and findings about student perceptions concerning offensiveness of professor behaviors. Preliminary results suggest students’ perceptions fall into two domains: a professor’s competence and interest, and respect for the individualism of students. Perceptions about egregiousness and number of offensive behaviors lessened over a course semester. Learning about today’s students’ perceptions and expectations may improve practices, learning environments and ultimately learning outcomes.