What did you study?
Using a sample of 1,862 teachers in Finland, this dissertation explored how teachers’ attitudes toward inclusive education, subjective norms about inclusive methods, self-efficacy in implementing inclusive strategies, collective teacher efficacy for managing student discipline, and their intentions to adopt inclusive approaches relate to their inclusive practices. The dissertation draws on Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior and examines three domains of inclusive practices: positive behavior support strategies, personalized instructional methods, and collaboration and assessment techniques.
What were the results of your study?
The results indicate that teachers’ positive affective attitudes toward inclusive education, their perceptions of a supportive school ethos regarding inclusion within the school community, and robust self-efficacy beliefs enhance teachers’ intentions to adopt inclusive approaches. These intentions, along with teachers’ self-efficacy and collective teacher efficacy, positively impact the use of inclusive practices.
How can the results be applied?
The results highlight the importance of whole-school inclusive approaches to promote the implementation of inclusive practices, thereby informing the development of pre- and in-service teacher training, future educational policies, and school leadership practices.
What new insights did the research contribute to the topic?
By using the Theory of Planned Behavior for inclusive education and cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses with teacher samples, this study provides strong evidence for understanding the beliefs that influence teachers’ inclusive practices.
Public defence
MA Ipek Gülsün defends her doctoral dissertation in special education "Exploring the Determinants of Teachers’ Inclusive Practices: Insights from Finnish Classrooms".
The opponent is professor Jaana Viljaranta (University of Eastern Finland) and custos is senior lecturer Tuomo Virtanen (University of Jyväskylä). The event will be held in English.
- Remote participation link: https://r.jyu.fi/dissertation-gulsun-080526
- Dissertation link: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-86-1429-6
Contact information
İpek Gülsün
Doctoral Researcher
Faculty of Education and Psychology
ipgulsun@jyu.fi
