| Purpose of the Study. The purpose of the study was twofold. First, the study investigated differences in the attitudes toward the handicapped of special education teachers. Second, the study sought to determine if differences occurred in the attitudes of special education teachers toward the handicapped when education and experience were controlled.;The scores obtained were analyzed for significant differences with regard to attitude toward disabled persons. Eleven null hypotheses were tested using F test for independent means, analysis of variance, and analysis of covariance. All findings were interpreted in terms of the .05 level of significance.;Findings. Hypothesis 1.0 and subhypotheses 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 examined attitude toward the handicapped of special education preservice teachers, special education student teachers, and special education inservice teachers. There were no significant differences between Hypothesis 1.0 and subhypotheses 1.1 and 1.2. However, a significant difference existed in subhypothesis 1.3.;Hypothesis 2.0 examined attitude toward the handicapped of special education preservice teachers, special education student teachers, and special education inservice teachers when the variables of education and experience were controlled. Significant differences existed between groups. Subhypotheses 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 examined attitude toward the handicapped of special education preservice teachers, special education student teachers, and special education inservice teachers when the variable of education was controlled. Significant differences existed between all groups. Subhypotheses 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6 examined attitude toward the handicapped of special education preservice teachers, special education student teachers, and special education inservice teachers when the variable of teaching experience was controlled. Significant differences existed in subhypotheses 2.5 and 2.6. No significant difference existed in subhypothesis 2.4.;Procedure. Seventy-nine subjects were sampled and divided into three groups. Each participant was administered the Measurement of Attitude Toward Disabled Person Scale.;Conclusions. Data indicated that level of education and years of teaching experience had an effect upon teachers' attitude toward the handicapped. These findings support Higgs' (1975:496) belief that attitude toward disabled persons was related to the degree of contact with and knowledge about these individuals.;It was further concluded that special education student teachers' attitude toward the handicapped differs from those of the special education inservice teachers. Callahan (1980:170) suggested the student teaching experience does influence the attitude of teacher candidates. |
