Disciplinary Differences and University Teachers’ Perspectives: Possibilities of Applying the Teaching Perspectives Inventory

  • Jovana Milutinović Department of Pedagogy at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
  • Biljana Lungulov Department of Pedagogy at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
  • Aleksandra AnÄ‘elković Pedagogical Faculty in Vranje, University of NiÅ¡, Serbia
Keywords: academic disciplines, hard/soft sciences, higher education, perspectives on teaching, university teachers

Abstract

Based on the conceptual and empirical framework of five perspectives on teaching and earlier studies that have suggested a link between teaching perspectives and teachers’ academic disciplines, this paper aimed to examine the differences in the university teachers’ perspectives from various academic disciplines and faculties. This research also aimed to validate the Teaching Perspectives Inventory on a sample of 526 university teachers in Serbia. The results confirmed the differences in the university teachers’ perspectives and led to the conclusion that hard sciences teachers were more teacher-centred, while soft sciences teachers were more student-centred. Additionally, exploratory factor analysis indicated that the slightly modified version of the TPI is applicable and reliable to use in other educational contexts. However, it can be concluded that research on teachers’ perspectives is limited to specific cultural, educational, and research contexts.

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Author Biography

Biljana Lungulov, Department of Pedagogy at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad, Serbia

Biljana Lungulov is an assistant professor at the Department of Pedagogy at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad. Her areas of interest are: higher education, educational policies, didactics, quality of teaching and education.

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Published
2023-12-23
How to Cite
Milutinović, J., Lungulov, B., & Anđelković, A. (2023). Disciplinary Differences and University Teachers’ Perspectives: Possibilities of Applying the Teaching Perspectives Inventory. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 13(4), 87-109. https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.1470