Influence of Creative Thinking on Attitude towards teaching among

Student-teachers
1. INTRODUCTION
Creative Thinking
Creative thinking is not a talent; it is a skill that can be learned.
It empowers people by adding strength to their natural abilities which
improves teamwork, productivity, and where appropriate, profits.
-

Edward de Bono

(Father of lateral thinking)

Creative thinking refers to mental orientation and capacity of persons to evolve and
develop new and superior solutions to compels, ambiguous or nuclear problem. Moreover,
creativity is a challenge to established organizational institutions while it is a difficult task to
start-up in the initial stage. Creative thinking emerged to some extend as response to finding an
answer to the question human being is different from other living beings. One of the ways human
beings differ from other living beings is seen in this creative ability or creative trait. This is a trait
which distinguishes human being most typically from all other living creatures, a trait to which
human being ever owes his/her cultures and civilization, which continuously leads him/her own
evolutionary development . Creative behavior, by its very nature, is spontaneous, inner directed,
ordinary and not capable of being elicited at will. Therefore, it is unpredictable and is considered
to escape manipulation and control .
Attitude towards teaching
Attitude is considered to be worth studying and analyzing as one of the indicators of behavior
while examining the individuals behaviors. Attitude affects both our social perception and
behaviors. Attitude is a tendency which is attributed to the individual and which forms his
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors about a psychological object. Attitude is evaluation statements,
either positive or negative, about objects, people or events.
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Attitude expresses how an individual feels about something. Attitude is different from
options, values and beliefs. While attitude and opinions look similar, opinions differ from
attitudes in terms of degree of generalization and the measurement technique. Opinions are
personal reactions against certain events and situations. Attitude is more general in terms of their
effects in an individuals reactions against a group of events at a larger-scale or human
communities. People are aware of their opinions, while they may not be aware of their attitudes.
Attitude is different from values, too. The concept of value is more comprehensive. Values have
implications about honesty, desirableness or a moral dimension.
The teacher is the indispensable component of the education system. No matter how well
educational or instructional objectives are established, no matter how functional the content of
the subject is selected and organized, it is impossible to achieve the desired results from
education unless they are performed by teachers with those objectives, and insights. Teaching is
a term which represents a position in educational organizations coupled with a set of behaviors
necessitated by this very position and expresses the status, duties and relationship of that
position. When a study about teacher and teaching with the context of organizational behavior is
conducted, the organizational behavior of an employee actually talking place in that educational
organization is analyzed. An analysis of the variables determining the behaviors of a teacher in
the class setting in terms of organizational behavior obviously reveals that one of the major
factors determining the teachers behaviors is the nature of the teachers attitude towards the
teaching.
The concept of attitude is one of the major subjects of consideration while analyzing the
organizational behavior. The factors affecting the relationship between attitude and behavior
include
(1) Time factor: whether the length of the time past between attitude and measurement of
behavior is long or short;
(2) Strength of attitude: the total strength of all three cognitive, affective, and behavioral
components of the attitude;
(3) Accessibility of the attitude: the speed at which any information about the attitude
reaches the brain;
(4) Awareness: the extent to which an individual is aware of his own attitude and
behaviors.
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To know about an individuals attitude towards an object or stimulus is to allow us to

estimate the potential behaviors towards the relevant stimulus. This is of great importance in
practice. Vocational training programs given in order to prepare the individuals for different
subjects intend to provide those individuals who have chosen the profession and are receiving
some training about relevant profession with knowledge, feelings and skills required to present
behaviors specific for the relevant profession.
2. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The prime function of education is to draw out the potentialities of the child and develop them to
meet the challenging situation in life. Proper education will keep the child to understand the
society and to adjust with the social environment. It is in the school that positive attitude towards
life and work is developed. The life of a child is to be fashioned by the experience and talents of
the teachers. The teacher is to be well equipped in order to actualize this great mission. In order
to carry out this great task, the teacher is enabled by means of proper training. Proper training is
to be given so that the vacuum created by the modern world could be filled up by enthusiasm,
interest and desire to yoke the burden of the society.
The focus of teacher preparation had to shift from training to education if it had to make a
positive influence on quality of curriculum transaction in classrooms and there by pupil learning
and the larger social transformation. The aspects that need greater emphasis are; the length of
academic preparation, the level and quality of subject matter knowledge, the repertoire of
pedagogical skills that teachers possess to meet the needs of diverse learning situations, the
degree of commitment to the profession, sensitivity to contemporary issues and problems and the
levels of motivation. Therefore, the student-teachers have a great role in molding future
generation. Hence, the investigator inclines to study the variables Influence of creative thinking
on attitude towards teaching among student-teachers.

3. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

There are many teaching methods followed by the teacher trainees. Some methods are Lecture
method, Discussion method, Demonstration method, Role play, Inductive and Deductive method.
Also the trainees used flash card, rotating disk, chart, matching board as their teaching aids. Still
now they are using these, teaching methods and teaching aids, it should be changed with some
new teaching techniques as the coming generations are more intelligent than their teachers. So
teachers should have some creativeness in their teaching.
When the investigator did her Bachelors degree in Education the teacher trainees used to
go for training I did here followed the method of teaching as the investigator taught. The
investigator thinks it is not apt for recent days. The method of teaching which is followed by the
teachers should be creative, So that the student can also think creatively in order to achieve their
goals. Also the investigator asked her colleagues about this that what they think about creative
teachers. They think that the teachers should be imaginative and creative thinkers on their
teaching process. So the investigator took this study Influence of creative thinking on attitude
towards teaching among student-teachers.
4. REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES
Anderson, Troy (2008) made a study in the middle of things: How ego networks and
context perceptions influence individual creativity in work groups. The findings of the study
were: (i) the direction of the effects of both social network position and tie strength on creative
performance of the organizational context. (ii) the preferred model showed a strong fit to the
data, providing support for the inclusion of network variables in any comprehensive theory of
creative behavior in organization.
Wang, Shuhong (2010) studied thinking outside box when the box is missing: Examining
the curvilinear relation between ambiguity and creativity. The finding of the study was that
creative self efficiency mediated the relation between role ambiguity and creativity. Creative role
identity failed to serve as a mediator
Massalski, Dorothy Clare (2010) studied Cognitive development and creativity in Navajo
University students: explorative cases study multiple intelligence perspective. The findings of the
study was that the American Indian perspective are possibly prophetic as they proceed beyond
culture and gifted education intersecting and informing other fields: psychology, educational
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anthropology, and philosophy and Indigenous studies both in American populations as well as
Indigenous gifted students worldwide.
Elakiya and Mary lily pushpam (2010) conducted a study on A study on the Scientific
Attitude of IX standard students in Coimbatore district. Scientific Attitude is a very significant
aspect in process of science education. Every citizen should develop a scientific attitude to make
intelligent decisions and for solving personal as well as environmental problems. Samples of 244
students studying in IX standard were selected. The results of the present study reveal that the
level of scientific attitude of IX standard students in Coimbatore district is high. Gender and
nature of the school influence the scientific attitude of the students.
Oylum Akkus Ispir (2010) found teachers attitudes towards teaching profession and to
identify their burnout level. Besides it was aimed to find out the relationship between the
burnout level of the teachers and their attitudes towards teaching profession. This sample
consists of 308 teachers from variety of branches. Two instruments namely; Maslach Burnout
Inventory Attitude Scale towards Teaching Profession were used to collect data. The results
revealed that the teachers in this study group have low level of burnout and their attitudes
towards teaching profession were found high. A significant correlation was found between
burnout level and their attitudes of the teachers.
Seda Gun (2012) determined the attitudes of teacher candidates on the teaching
profession. Within the framework of this objective, the Likert type scale comprising of 25
attitude sentences were developed in order to be used in the study. The sample of the study
consists of a total of 150 teacher candidates studying at Hacettepe University. In the study, the
views and suggestions of the teacher candidates with regards to the improvement of this
profession were studied in detail. Attitude scales were applied to the students at the primary
school teaching department. After analyzing the data collected, relevant recommendations were
set forth in the profession

5. VARIABLES UNDER THE STUDY

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Independent Variable

: Creative Thinking

Dependent Variable

: Attitude towards teaching

Background Variables

: Gender, Age, and Locality of student, Type of management,

Educational qualification and Marital status.

6. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Influence of Creative Thinking on Attitude towards teaching among
Student-teachers
Creative thinking is the sum total of word fluency, identical fluency, associational fluency,
expressional fluency, originality and elaboration. The creative thinking should be needed for the
teachers in handling class, in order to make the students learn and think creatively. These
teachers differed in personality, in style of teaching and in the climate they created shared and
valuable qualities. Teacher attitudes not only set tone for the relationship between teachers and
students with disabilities, but they also influence the attitude of non-disable students.
The creative thinking can significantly aid teachers in creating creative learning
environments that foster problem solving skills and creativity in their students. Hence the
investigator wishes to analyze the Influence of creative thinking on attitude towards teaching
among the student-teachers.
7. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
Creative Thinking
It is a mental process involving the generation of new ideas or concept or new association of the
Creative mind between existing ideas or concepts.
Attitude towards teaching
An attitude is an expression of favor or disfavor towards the teaching.
In the present study it means the favorable or unfavorable thinking of student-teachers
towards their teaching.
Student-teachers
Students who are undergoing the B.Ed., degree course in the colleges of education after
completing their graduate or post graduate degree which are affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Teacher
Education University, Chennai.
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8.
1.
2.
3.

OBJECTIVES
To find out the level of creative thinking among student-teachers.
To find out the level of attitude towards teaching among student teachers.
To find out the significant difference between male and female student-teachers with

regard to their creative thinking.

4. To find out the significant difference between male and female student-teachers with
regard to their attitude towards teaching.
5. To find out the significant difference between rural and urban student-teachers with
regard to their creative thinking.
6. To find out the significant difference between rural and urban student-teachers with
regard to their attitude towards teaching.
7. To find out the significant difference between the age groups, below 25 years and above
25 years student-teachers with regard to their creative thinking.
8. To find out the significant difference between the age groups, below 25 years and above
25 years student-teachers with regard to their attitude towards teaching.
9. To find out the significant difference between graduate and post graduate student-teachers
with regard to their creative thinking.
10. To find out the significant difference between graduate and post graduate studentteachers with regards to their attitude towards teaching.
11. To find out the significant difference between married and unmarried student-teachers
with regard to their creative thinking.
12. To find out the significant difference between married and unmarried student-teachers
with regard to their attitude towards teaching.
13. To find out the significance difference among government, aided and private college
student-teachers with regard to their creative thinking.
14. To find out the significance difference among government, aided and private college
student-teachers with regard to their attitude towards teaching.
15. To find out the relationship between creative thinking and attitude towards teaching
among student-teachers.
9. HYPOTHESES
1. There is no significant difference between male and female student-teachers with regard
to their creative thinking.
2. There is no significant difference between male and female student-teachers with regard
to their attitude towards teaching.
3. There is no significant difference between rural and urban student-teachers with regard to
their creative thinking.

4. There is no significant difference between rural and urban student-teachers with regard to
their attitude towards teaching.
5. There is no significant difference between the age groups, below 25 years and above 25
years student-teachers with regard to their creative thinking.
6. There is no significant difference between the age groups, below 25 years and above 25
years student-teachers with regard to their attitude towards teaching.
7. There is no significant difference between graduate and post graduate student-teachers
with regard to their creative thinking.
8. There is no significant difference between graduate and post graduate student-teachers
with regards to their attitude towards teaching.
9. There is no significant difference between married and unmarried student-teachers with
regard to their creative thinking.
10. There is no significant difference between married and unmarried student-teachers with
regard to their attitude towards teaching.
11. There is no significance difference among government, aided and private college
student-teachers with regard to their creative thinking.
12. There is no significance difference among government, aided and private college
student-teachers with regard to their attitude towards teaching.
13. There is no significant relationship between creative thinking and attitude towards
teaching among student-teachers.
10. METHOD OF STUDY
The systematic way of doing research is known as research methodology. The investigator
proposed to use survey method to study the influence of creative thinking on attitude towards
teaching among student-teachers.
11. POPULATION
The population is generally a large collection of individuals or objects that is the main focus of a
scientific query. The population for the present study was the student-teachers studying in the
colleges of Education in Tirunelveli district.
12. SAMPLE SIZE

Sample is a group of people or things that are taken from a large group and studied, tested or
questioned to get information. The investigator will be select 300 student-teachers from the
colleges of education in Tirunelveli district by using simple random sampling technique.
The sample was stratified on the basis of gender, age, locality, type of management,
educational qualification and marital status.
13. TOOLS TO BE USED
The investigator propose the following tools for her study.
i) Creative Thinking questionnaire
ii) Attitude towards Teaching Scale
Along with the investigator prepared will be the personal data form.
14. PROCEDURE OF DATA COLLECTION
The investigator will get permission from the principal of the colleges of education and will
collect data using the developed tools from the student-teachers in the college of education in
Tirunelveli district.
15. STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES
In this present investigation the following Statistical techniques will be used.
a) Percentage Analysis
b) Differential Analysis
i)
Independent sample t test
ii)
One way ANOVA F test
c) Correlation analysis
Pearsons product moment correlation
16. DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study is limited particularly in Tirunelveli district.
The sample size delimited to only 300 student-teachers studying in college of
education.
17. TIME SCHEDULE
The investigator proposes the following breakup of the schedule for the completion of the
research work.
i) Review of related studies : 1 month
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ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)

Preparation of tools
Pilot study
Data collection
Data analysis
Final analysis

: 2 month
: 1 month
: 1 month
: 1 month
: 1 month
_______________

Total

: 7 month
_______________

18. REFERENCES
Addis, William (2001), Creativity and Innovation: the structured Engineers Contribution to
Design. Boston, Oxford Architectural press.
Anderson, Troy (2008), In the middle of things: How ego networks and context perceptions
influence individual creativity in work groups, Dissertation Abstract International,
Vol.68, no.10, p.4373A.
DAlonzo, B.J., Giordano, G., & Cross, T. L. ( 1996). Improving teachers attitudes through
teacher education toward the inclusion of students with disabilities into their classrooms.
The Teacher Educator, 31, 304-312.
Massalski, Dorothy Clare (2010), Cognitive development and creativity in a Navajo University
students: an explorative case study Multiple intelligence perspective, Dissertation
Abstract International, Vol.70, no.12, p.4637A.
Oylum Akkus Ispir(2010) Teachers Burnoed levels and their Attitude towards teaching
profession, EABR& EPLC conference proceedings Dublin, Ireland.
Seda Gun (2012) Attitudes of primary school Teacher Candidates towards the Teaching
Profession, Procedia - social and behavioral Science, volume 46, 2922-2926.

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Wang, Shuhong (2010), Thinking outside of the box when the box is missing: Examining the
curvilinear relation between role ambiguity and creativity, Dissertation Abstract
International, Vol.71, no.01, p.351A.

Signature of the Candidate

Signature of the Guide

Counter Signature of Head of the Department

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