Cultural influences on students' perceptions of videotaped lessons

This study investigated the effect of students’ cultural background on their perceptions of videotaped teacher behavior. Earlier research was not able to determine if behaviors perceived differently by students from various cultural groups were caused by dissimilar teacher treatment or differences with respect to students’ norms, values, and needs. By keeping teacher behavior constant, further evidence was sought for the second of these two possible causes. Seventy-eight students in four cultural groups (Asian-American, Hispanic-American, African-American and White-American) watched four video lesson segments and completed a questionnaire on interpersonal teacher behavior. Asian-American students felt the teachers displayed more uncertainty than their peers from other ethnic groups, while students mainly speaking Spanish at home perceived more helpful, friendly and understanding behavior. The outcomes provide further support for the assumption that students’ perceptions are influenced by their cultural background.