Action Research: Description of Perceptions and Attitudes toward Cafeteria Rules and Their Effects on Consistent Adherence

Abstract

Reason: Lunchroom population density and limited opportunity to provide lunch services require a high rate of throughput; even minor disruptions create a cascade delays resulting in insufficient time for student nourishment, or infringement upon academic instruction time. Action research helps educators identify problems, formulate questions, collect and analyze data, then develop plans of action. Problem: This study describes perceptions and attitudes toward the cafeteria rules that may contribute to or detract from consistent adherence. It seeks to answer the following questions: What are students' and adults' perceptions of the rules, rule compliance, and impact of compliance/non-compliance? How do the perceptions of students, monitors, and intervening supervisors compare and contrast? Methodology: This is a non-randomized, cross-sectional, mixed methods sequential assessment of perceptions and attitudes toward published behavior rules for the cafeteria. A convenience sample of three data sources: students, lunchroom monitors, and intervening support staff (adults) were data sources. Quantitative data collection was followed by qualitative data collection from interviews with key intervening supervisory staff. Results: The questionnaire response rate for students (n=78) was 86.5%, and for adults (n=16) was 84.4%. Statistically significant differences between students and adults in perception of rule utility and adherence were observed. Interviews of seven intervening supervisory adults were obtained to explore strategies for closing perception gaps. Implications: Results indicate adults hold high expectations that students may not perceive themselves capable of meeting. Interview provided triangulation to strengthen analysis of findings, and suggest strategies for designing intervention to increase future compliance.