Classroom Psychosocial Environment

Abstract

School administrators and teachers recognize the pertinence of perceived, classroom environment for student behavior and achievement. To evaluate this environment, the Class Atmosphere Scale (CAS) assesses quantitatively the perceptions held by teacher and students about their common class milieu. A sample of 30 classes (N=509) provides data to calculate percentile norms for each of the 12 CAS sub scales. Further analysis suggests four discrete applications of subscale profiles. The CAS can be useful for future basic and applied research on classroom structure and behavior.