Demographic influences on perceptions of school psychological services

This study examined the influence of demographic variables on the perceptions of 191 teachers, 90 administrators, and 51 school psychologists when establishing preference rankings in five areas of school psychological services: priority for referral, information-gathering techniques, utilization of the school psychologist, effectiveness with exceptional children, and strategies of remediation employed. A nonparametric analysis of rank indicated contradictory perceptions among the respondents. Age, sex, degree, experience, and level of assignment affected the subjects' perceptions variously. Explanations were proposed.