1977 National Survey of Science, Mathematics and Social Studies Education: Implications for Teacher Education

The National Survey of Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies Education was conducted in the spring of 1977 as part of the National Science Foundation's comprehensive needs assessment program. The survey utilized a national probability sample of districts, schools, and teachers. Approximately 10,000 teachers, principals, superintendents, and state and local supervisors were included in the sample. Response rates ranged from 72 percent for local supervisors to 90 percent for state supervisors. A major purpose of the survey was to provide the National Science Foundation with the accurate and up-to-date information needed to make decisions about future funding of curriculum development and teacher education activities. The sample design, and procedures used in instrument development and data collection, are described in section one. Selected results are presented in section two, and section three discusses some of the implications of these results for teacher education, such as teacher characteristics, sources of information, the use of various instructional materials and techniques, and areas in which teachers need additional assistance. (Author/MJB)