Examining the relationship between early childhood teacher empathy, poverty perceptions, and experiences with poverty

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationships between empathy, poverty perceptions, and lived experiences of 156 early childhood educators. An online survey was utilized to gather data, with the results being applied to address the research questions. A correlation was conducted to determine if a relationship existed between empathy levels and poverty perceptions. The study analyzed whether the participants’ lived experiences predicted their empathy levels using a linear regression. A multiple linear regression was run to examine whether specific demographic characteristics (which served as independent variables) predicted poverty perceptions. The results indicated no significant relationship existed between empathy and the participants’ poverty perceptions. Additionally, predictability was not established between lived experiences and empathy or the demographic variables and poverty perceptions. Recommendations for professional development as well as environmental and cultural considerations were discussed. Future research recommendations focused on considerations for replicating the study, using intentional recruitment or purposive sampling to enhance the possibility for equitable distribution of participants, and conducting a similar study, utilizing mixed methods approaches, with pre-service early childhood educators.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Childhood Development and Early Education

Grantor

Texas Woman's University

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Sprayberry, Felicia

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Rose, Katherine K

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Brown, Melissa McInnis
• Moore, Lin

• Early childhood educators
• Poverty
• Bronfenbrenner
• Empathy

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/11274/16916

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:twu-ir.tdl.org:11274/16916