Influences on Primary Teachers’ Practice: some problems for curriculum change theory

Abstract

This paper presents findings concerning various sources of influences upon Cypriot primary school teachers. Questionnaires were distributed to a randomly selected sample of 10% of all Cypriot primary teachers. A response rate of 72% was obtained. Analysis was carried out using SPSS. Although a strong consensus among teachers’ perceptions of teaching and assessment in mathematics was identified, there was little consensus about sources of influence on their practice. Cluster analysis (SPSS) revealed six relatively homogeneous groups of Cypriot teachers according to perceived influences on their practice. It is argued that the notion of a coherent set of teachers’ attitudes to change is problematic and this has implications for curriculum reform policy.