Department of Sociology

Bruce J. Biddle
Professor Emeritus

Bruce Biddle is a professor in the psychology as well as sociology department. His areas of specialization include social psychology, role theory and education.

Research Interests

For some years I have worked on role theory as an integrated set of concepts, propositions, and evidence. Several integrative works have appeared: an early review monograph, a text-reader, a conceptual synthesis for the field, a chapter for an Annual Review volume, and an encyclopedia contribution. This work continues in collaboration with Dr. Barbara J. Bank.

Between 1958 and 1963 l led a team studying the teacher's role in Kansas City, and another study began in 1964 that compared teacher roles in Australia, England, New Zealand, and the United States. Results from these studies appeared in various forms. Recently I have been collaborating with colleagues on a handbook that will spotlight innovative work on teachers and teaching.

Studies of classroom interaction were begun at Missouri in 1963 and have involved collaboration with several colleagues. Selected works from this effort have included a book on teacher effectiveness, a study of classroom social systems, a monograph that reviews research on teaching for educators, and a book on the effectiveness of teaching.

In the mid-1970's Dr. Barbara Bank and I began studying young persons' decision and behaviors with colleagues in Australia, France, and Norway. Our research has focused on drinking, other forms of problem behavior, school achievement, undergraduates' values, and the causes and effects of dropping out of school. Comparative research has been conducted, and longitudinal studies of career decisions and university re-enrollment have been completed.

For several years I have also been exploring relationships between social theory, research, and social policy impact. This work has produced several papers, a handbook chapter, and an edited book concerned with social research impact in education. A book reviewing evidence bearing on a the recent, ideologically-driven attack on American education was recently co-authored with a colleague of another University. At present, l am completing the study of the effects of research-generated knowledge on school principals with two colleagues in Australia.

Other interests have included a study of schools as social systems, the semantic analysis of discourse, the impact of educational media on society, sex roles, the learning of values, and research methodology. Research I have also been conducting comparative research on the attribution of perceived causes for success and failure among Australians and Americans.

Courses Taught

Advanced Social Psychology
Group Dynamics and Role Theory
Seminar in Social Psychology I
Survey of Social Psychology

Recent Publications

Berliner, D.C. and Biddle, B.J. The lamentable alliance between the media and
      the school critics. In G.I. Maeroff (Ed.), Imaging Education: The Media and
      Schools in America, pp. 26-45. New York: Teachers College Press, 1998.

Berliner, D. C. & Biddle, B. J. (1995). The Manufactured Crisis: Myths, Fraud,
      and the Attack on America's Public Schools.New York: Addison-Wesley-
      Longman.

Biddle, B. J. (Ed.) (2001). Social Class, Poverty, and Education. New York:
     RoutledgeFalmer .

Biddle, B. J. & Saha, L. J. (with the assistance of D. S. Anderson) (2002). The
      Untested Accusation: Principals, Research Knowledge, and Policy
      Decisions in Schools. Westport, CT: Ablex.

Saha, L.J. and Biddle, B.J. Forsigning betydelsefull for rektorer. Pedagogiska
      Magazinet, 2/98, 6-11.

Sheldon, K.M. and Biddle, B.J. Standards, accountability, and school reform.
      Teachers College Record, 100(1), 164-180.

312 Middlebush Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-6100
(573) 882-8331
Fax: (573) 884-6430