ERIC Number: EJ1491116
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2026-Jan
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0033-3085
EISSN: EISSN-1520-6807
Available Date: 2025-08-06
Why Do Students Misbehave? An Exploration of Teacher and Administrator Perceptions of Elementary School Students' Problem Behavior
Alexandria J. Tomkunas1; Mackenzie N. Wink1; Maria D. LaRusso1
Psychology in the Schools, v63 n1 p23-36 2026
Problem behavior is on the rise in schools, resulting in worsened outcomes for students and teachers. Limited research has examined administrators' causal attributions of problem behavior or alignment between teacher and administrator perceptions about student behavior; this is important given literature indicating that teacher and administrator perceptions are often misaligned. However, little is known about how much teacher and administrator share similar perspectives on the causes of student misbehavior, which has implications for behavior management. This study aims to address these gaps using qualitative methods. Nineteen teachers and six administrators, sampled from three schools in a suburban public school district in the Northeast of the United States, were interviewed about their perceptions of the causes of student problem behavior and effective behavior management methods. Results of thematic analyses suggest both alignment and misalignment in perceptions. For example, teachers and administrators indicated agreement within schools about perceived causes of student problem behavior; however, regarding effective behavior management strategies, teachers and administrators emphasized different approaches. Perceptions also varied across schools, highlighting the importance of contextual factors. Importantly, these findings suggest that educator training may be more effective if teachers and administrators develop a shared vision for behavior management, taking into account school-wide programs, student needs, and teachers' expertise grounded in classroom experience.
Descriptors: Student Behavior, Behavior Problems, Suburban Schools, Public Schools, Behavior Modification, Teacher Attitudes, Administrator Attitudes, Context Effect, Teacher Role, Administrator Role
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, Connecticut, USA

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