Examination of Undesirable Behaviors Displayed by Faculty Members in the Classroom: Perspectives of Pre-Service Teachers

Effective teaching and learning in classrooms are achievable only through sound classroom management. While positive attitudes and behaviors exhibited by faculty members enhance instructional quality, undesirable behaviors may impede and negatively influence the teaching–learning process. The purpose of this study is to examine the undesirable behaviors displayed by faculty members in classroom settings based on the perspectives of pre-service teachers. The study adopted a phenomenological design and was conducted with 95 pre-service teachers enrolled in the Classroom Management course at the Faculty of Education, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview form and analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that undesirable faculty members’ behaviors were characterized as actions stemming from instructors’ inadequacies that negatively affect students and the overall educational process. These behaviors were categorized under four themes: instructional management, time management, communication management, and behavior management. The results indicated that undesirable behaviors predominantly originate from instructor-related factors. Pre-service teachers reported experiencing such behaviors most frequently within the theme of behavior management. These behaviors primarily diminish their motivation and negatively influence their participation and academic performance. Pre-service teachers emphasized the need for both institutional and individual measures to prevent undesirable faculty members’ behaviors.