Students’ Expectations and Students’ Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Excellent Teacher Behaviors

Abstract

This study sought to investigate whether teacher behaviors, within the Teacher Behavior Checklist dimensions of caring and supportive and professional competency and communication skills, relate to students’ satisfaction. Additionally, it assessed the influence of the importance students set on teacher behaviors on students’ satisfaction. Cross-sectional survey data were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression and mediation analysis. Results suggested teacher behaviors within the caring and supportive dimension is the dominant predictor of students’ satisfaction. Behaviors according to professional competency and communication skills were also related to students’ satisfaction but to a lesser degree. Results showed that students’ importance for behaviors did mediate the relationship between teacher behaviors and students’ satisfaction with both caring and supportive and professional competency and communication skills. Theoretical and practical implications for excellent teacher behaviors are discussed including recommendations for future research.

Education is becoming digital: The youth attitudes towards online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Lecturer behaviour can have a major impact on student's motivation to learn. [26] Italian students in large number agree that online teaching is better than traditional and their satisfaction with this way of learning is high. [27] Table 7 shows the disadvantages that can cause difficulties in learning, also through a Likert scale.…”

The Teacher Behavior Checklist: The Mediation Role of Teacher Behaviors in the Relationship Between the Students’ Importance of Teacher Behaviors and Students’ Effort

“…To my knowledge, the indirect relationship between TBC importance and students' effort through TBC behaviors has not been explored within a semester. Geier (2020) found evidence that teacher behaviors, as rated with the TBC, mediate the relationship of students' importance of teacher behaviors with students' satisfaction. This study proposes the same mediation process with the outcome of the students' effort.…”

“…First, it provides further empirical evidence that expectations of students matter toward teacher behaviors. Geier (2020) found evidence that teacher behaviors, rated using the TBC, mediate the relationship between students' expectations and students' satisfaction. This study also found a mediation, therefore, confirming the finding Geier (2020) but using a different outcome.…”

“…This study contributes toward the behavioral profile of an excellent teacher creating high levels of students' effort and students' satisfaction using the TBC framework. Geier (2020) found the following behaviors to have a positive relationship with students' satisfaction: is understanding, provides positive feedback, and is confident. This study found three behaviors to be positively related to students' effort: creative and interesting, enthusiastic about teaching, and promotes critical thinking.…”

“…Teacher behaviors and student expectations were conceptualized with the Teacher Behavior Checklist (TBC), according to Buskist et al (2002) and Keeley et al (2006). I set out this study to test the assumption that teacher behaviors mediate the relationship of students' importance of teacher behaviors (i.e., expectations) and students' effort based on the study by Geier (2020).…”