Bridget B Guenthner

Factors Affecting Behavior Choices in Middle School: Perception and Discipline Practices in the Learning Environment Bridget B Guenthner

Cultural, socioeconomic, demographic, and academic differences in classrooms create opportunities for students to develop positive or negative views of school, including experiences in the classroom, cafeteria, and halls. Multiple factors in and out of the classroom influence student opinions and beliefs. It is important to research the way in which existing beliefs as well as perception- building opportunities influence behavioral choices rather than how specific views or opinions emerge for individual students. While many individual components influence a student?s beliefs, this study examined three aspects that may influence behavioral perceptions in school. A student?s views of school discipline, the student?s previous experiences with authority figures, and the methods teachers use to address and report student discipline influence the way a student responds to the environment.