This study investigated the self-perceptions of graduate interns at the University of Bridgeport and the Undergraduate seniors at Southern Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University in teacher preparation programs. The comparison entailed the self-perceptions of the two groups' self-concept, self-esteem, maturity and professional commitment.
The Self-Perception Inventory developed by Drs. Anthony and Louise Soares, forms: Self-Concept as Person, Self-Concept as Ideal Teacher, and Self-Concept as Teacher were utilized. To complete the study of each group's individual perception of Self-Esteem, Maturity and Professional Commitment, a Line-Item Analysis was performed. The inventories were administered to both groups before they had any student teaching experience.
The study sample consisted of 44 Graduate students from the University of Bridgeport's Intern Program and 49 Undergraduate seniors from Southern Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University. Complete confidentiality was promised and maintained. Analysis of variance was used to test the twelve null hypotheses, employing an alpha of.05 to establish significance.
The Mean age of Interns was 28; mean age of the Seniors was 27. The Interns' mean score for gender was 1.7; the mean score for the Seniors was 1.8. Males were represented by (1); females by (2).
The results of the study showed that the Graduate Interns and Undergraduate Seniors perceived themselves about equal for self-esteem as Person; self-esteem as Teacher; self-concept as Ideal Teacher and self-concept as Teacher; maturity as Ideal Teacher; and professional commitment as Teacher. The two groups felt significantly different about themselves with regard to self-concept as Person; maturity as Person and maturity as Teacher; professional commitment as Person and professional commitment as Ideal Teacher; and self-esteem as Ideal Teacher.