TRAINING EFFECTS ON ATTITUDES OF ADULT DRIVER EDUCATION STUDENTS

THE ATTITUDES OF ADULT GROUPS WHILE TAKING A DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE WERE DETERMINED. THERE WERE 72 WOMEN AND 43 MEN IN THE CLASSES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COURSE. AT THE END THERE WERE 70 WOMEN AND 27 MEN WHO COMPLETED ALL THE WORK AND THE TESTS. ALL SUBJECTS COMPLETING THE COURSE WERE GIVEN 25 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION IN THE COURSE, 20 HOURS OF CLASS INSTRUCTION AND FIVE HOURS BEHIND THE WHEEL. BEFORE AND AFTER TRAINING THE SUBJECTS WERE GIVEN ALTERNATE FORMS OF THE DRIVER REACTION INVENTORY. THE FORMS WERE KNOWN TO CORRELATE +.80 UNDER THE CONDITIONS ADMINISTERED. THE RESULTS WERE: (1) WOMEN INCREASED THEIR MEAN SCORES BY ABOUT 12 POINTS, WHERE AS THE MEN DROPPED THREE POINTS. (THE INCREASE IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH AGAN'S RESULTS IN THAT WOMEN SHOW GREATER GAIN.) (2) THE SLIGHT DROP IN MEAN SCORE FOR MEN IS PROBABLY NONSIGNIFICANT, SINCE MANY WERE FOREIGN STUDENTS, THE LANGUAGE DIFFICULTY MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE RESULTS OR IT MAY BE THAT METHODS OF APPROACH TO TEACHING ATTITUDES IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE FOR MEN AS FOR WOMEN. THE RESULTS ARE GENERALLY IN HARMONY WITH AGAN'S FINDINGS THAT WOMEN SHOW A GREATER SHIFT IN ATTITUDES IN A FAVORABLE DIRECTION DURING A COURSE IN DRIVER EDUCATION THAN DO MEN. THE REASONS FOR SUCH A FINDING ARE NOT CLEAR BUT IT SEEMS METHODS ORDINARILY USED IN TEACHING DRIVING ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH WOMEN THAN WITH MEN SO FAR AS TEACHING ATTITUDES ARE CONCERNED.

  • Corporate Authors:

    Iowa State University, Ames

    2711 South Loop Drive
    Suite 4700
    Ames, IA  United States  50010-8664
  • Authors:
    • Lauer, A R
    • SCHWENK, L C
  • Publication Date: 1957

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00222903
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Nat Safety Council Safety Res Info Serv
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Nov 4 1994 12:00AM