This is another excellent example of the Lake Wobegon effect common to the human species. Students don't believe they cheat as much as fellow students, most people believe their sense of humor is better than average and I am sure most teachers think they are better than the average teacher. I am sure it is due to this very phenomenon that I think I am a better teacher than almost everyone I know (other than my esteemed colleagues who will read this on TIPS). It is part of the self-serving bias that helps to maintain our positive self-esteem. It is not possible to draw any conclusions about the actual state of teaching from such a poll.
To which one might add a couple more socially significant examples:
1. Most people report that they're better than average drivers.
2. Most people report that they either already earn an above average income, or expect to do so in the immediate future (this may be the basis for a lot of the Republican's support -- most people feel that they will benefit from policies which favor upper incomes).
From: Louis_Schmier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 1:33 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Subject: Re: Random Thought: (WE) Shelf Talkers
You know, Paul, there was a study done a while back in the University of California system. The overwhelmning majority of respondees, who made up a significant proportion of system faculty, characterized the quality of teaching as seriously wanting. With meager exceptions, the same majority proclaimed that they were good teachers.
-- * PAUL K. BRANDON [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Psychology Dept Minnesota State University * * 23 Armstrong Hall, Mankato, MN 56001 ph 507-389-6217 * * http://www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/psych/welcome.html *
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