Differential Effects of Conducive Classroom Environment on Learning Behaviors: Attention, HelpSeeking, Persistence, and Compliance in Grade 2
Gracel Jean Viduya
Discipline: Teacher Training
Abstract:
This descriptive-correlational study examined whether a conducive
classroom environment, herein conceptualized across physical, social, and
academic dimensions, exerts differential effects on four distinct learning
behaviors among Grade 2 learners. One hundred learners (n = 100)
completed the Conducive Classroom Environment Scale for Grade 2, and 27
teachers (n = 27) completed the Learning Behaviors Scale for Grade 2. Results
showed that learners perceived their classroom environment as moderately
conducive (M = 48.46), with the social dimension rated highest and the
physical dimension lowest. Compliance was the most highly observed
behavior (64% highly observed), while persistence was the least observed
(28% highly observed). A conducive classroom environment correlated
positively with all four behaviors, but the strength varied considerably:
compliance (r = .55, large effect), help-seeking (r = .48, medium effect),
attention (r = .42, medium effect), and persistence (r = .31, medium effect).
Fisher's z-test confirmed that the correlation for compliance was significantly
larger than those for persistence (z = 3.21, p = .001) and attention (z = 2.04, p
= .041). This study contributes evidence that for Grade 2 learners, compliance
and persistence are distinct constructs with different environmental
sensitivities, a finding that challenges the aggregation of attention and
persistence in existing instruments and questions policy fixation on physical
orderliness over social dimensions. Ultimately, Grade 2 teachers should
supplement a conducive classroom environment with explicit instructional
strategies that directly teach persistence, such as modeling strategies,
praising effort, and designing appropriately challenging tasks.
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