Student Perceptions of Rules for Classroom Interaction

Book excerpt: Burgoon's expectancy violation model posits that nonverbal rule violations will be evaluated according to the perceptions toward the violator and the behavior itself. However, the violator may have perceptions regarding the appropriateness of the rule. This study measured the perceptions of high school students regarding the rules for classroom interaction. It is believed that the rules for classroom interaction are rules which have been learned through the process of socialization and enculturation into the classroom setting throughout students' careers. These rules should be well known by all students by the time they reach tenth grade, the grade being investigated. A survey questionnaire was developed through a pilot study, and was distributed to 244 students through the English classes of three East Baton Rouge parish high schools. The high schools were chosen by relative drop out rate. Students were grouped by sex, race and age to measure differences in attitude by characteristics of potential dropouts. The study found that males have more negative attitudes toward compliance with laziness rules and the importance of those laziness rules than females. The study also found that Black students have a more positive attitudes regarding the importance of distraction, laziness, and respectfulness rules than non-Black students. Implications regarding the attitudes toward classroom rules are discussed.