Teacher–Student relationship quality as a barometer of teaching and learning effectiveness: Conceptualization and measurement

• Published in: British journal of educational psychology Vol. 93; no. 3; pp. 842 - 861
• Main Authors: Jowett, Sophia, Warburton, Victoria E., Beaumont, Lee C., Felton, Luke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley 01.09.2023; British Psychological Society
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Classrooms; Concept Formation; Educational psychology; Emotional development; Foreign Countries; Humans; Indirect effects; Instructional Effectiveness; Interpersonal Relations; Intrinsic motivation; Learner Engagement; Learning; Learning Processes; Mathematics; Mathematics Teachers; Measurement; Measures (Individuals); Negative emotions; Outcomes of Education; Perceptions; Physical education; Physical Education Teachers; Positive emotions; Predictive Validity; Psychometrics; Quality; Quantitative psychology; Questionnaires; relationship quality; Reliability; Reproducibility of Results; Schools; Secondary School Students; Secondary schools; Student Attitudes; Student Evaluation; Student teacher relationship; Students; Students - psychology; Teacher Effectiveness; Teacher Student Relationship; Teacher–Student; Teaching; TSRQ‐Q; Validity; youth; United Kingdom (England); physical education; relationship quality; mathematics; TSRQ-Q; youth; Teacher-Student
• ISSN: 0007-0998; 2044-8279
• DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12600

Background The Teacher–Student relationship (TSR) is instrumental for young children and adolescents' socio‐emotional development and wellbeing as well as academic engagement and progress. Aims The primary aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties, including reliability and factorial, convergent, and predictive validity, of the Teacher–Student Relationship Quality Questionnaire (TSRQ‐Q) with two samples of students. Sample(s) Participants were 294 students from secondary schools in the East Midlands and the East of England. Participants were separated into two samples; those who completed the TSRQ‐Q with their physical education teacher in mind (n = 150 students) and those who completed it with their mathematics teacher in mind (n = 144 students). Method A multi‐section questionnaire comprised of the TSRQ‐Q and other validated measures was completed on one occasion by students in both samples to assess their perceptions of the quality of the TSR, positive and negative affect, intrinsic motivation, physical self‐concept, enjoyment, and perceived competence. Results In both samples, the TSRQ‐Q demonstrated good internal consistency, factorial, convergent, and predictive validity. The quality of the TSR had both direct and indirect effects through positive affect on student outcomes in mathematics and physical education. Conclusions The TSRQ‐Q is a valid measure for assessing students' perceptions of the quality of the relationship with their teacher. The conceptual and practical significance of this unique relationship was reflected by its dual pathway effect on a range of student outcomes and via influencing students' positive affect in the classroom.