Teacher-student interpersonal relationships in lower secondary education in Indonesia : teacher and student perceptions

Abstract This study investigated firstly the reliability and validity of an Indonesian version of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI). Second, perceptions of Indonesian secondary school teachers’ interpersonal behaviour as perceived by students and teachers were studied with the QTI. Third, differences between students’ and teachers’ perceptions regarding interpersonal teacher behaviour were compared. The QTI itself is based on the Model of Interpersonal Behaviour which maps teacher behaviour in terms of Influence (Dominance–Submission) and Proximity (Cooperation–Opposition). In this study, an Indonesian version of the QTI was constructed and distributed to 2,380 students of 69 teachers from 85 classes (grade 7–9) from 12 public lower secondary schools in Indonesia. The results showed high reliability and validity for the instrument. Students’ and teachers’ average ratings on Influence were similar, while teacher’s ratings of Proximity were higher than those of students