Abstract:

The effective and successful implementation of the educational process is significantly influenced by conflicts arising in educational institutions. The aim of our study is to examine the relationships between the formation of school conflicts and two selected temporal factors (the age of the teachers and the length of time spent in the teaching profession). Another goal is to study the relationship between the styles chosen to resolve conflicts among teachers and the age of the workers. Teachers working in the districts of Trebišov and Michalovce in eastern Slovakia expressed their point of view in the form of an online questionnaire about the causes of workplace conflicts, the frequency of conflicts and the used conflict management methods. 135 teachers from educational institutions in Košice district were involved in the research. When examining the correlations between the variables, we used cross-tabulation analysis method, and while testing the existence of the correlation Pearson's Chi-square test was used. Based on the results of the research, younger teachers find themselves in conflict situations just as often as the representatives of the older generation. Therefore, the development of conflicts among the respondents is not determined by the temporal (age) factor. There was no correlation between the frequency of conflicts and the length of time spent as a teacher. According to another result of the research, the choice of school conflict resolution style does not depend on the age of the teachers. All age groups use the conflict resolution style involving mutual concessions and acceptance of the other party (cooperation or compromise) most often. In accordance with this, they named striving for the satisfaction of all parties involved in a conflict situation as their most characteristic conflict management strategy (method of action). Therefore, our study did not reveal any significant differences regarding the teachers' conflict management beliefs depending on the age and professional experience of the respondents.

Keywords:

Conflicts, conflict management style, age, time factor, pedagogue.