Exploring the Influential Factors of Teacher-student Relationship based on Random Forest Regression and Interpretation using SHAP

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore factors affecting the teacher-student relationship of middle and high school first grade students. It was intended to provide information for improving the teacher-student relationship through the analysis results. This study performed random forest regression analysis using GEPS data. The subjects of this study were 5,586 middle school students and 5,348 high school students. The explanatory variables used in the analysis were 478 items in middle school and 499 items in high school. 24 major factors were derived using SHAP value. The result is as follows: First, the main factors that influenced teacher-student relationships in the first grade of middle school were ‘school satisfaction’, ‘friendship relationship’, ‘teacher’s passion’, ‘teacher’s teaching ability’, ‘teacher’s teaching method’, ‘vacation life’, and ‘parent attachment-trust’. Second, the main factors that influenced teacher-student relationships in the first grade of high school were ‘school satisfaction’, ‘friendship relationship’, ‘teacher’s passion’, ‘teacher’s teaching method’, ‘self-esteem’, and ‘parent attachment-trust’. School satisfaction(8 items), peer relationship(6 items), teacher passion(1 item) and parent attachment-trust(1 item) were the same influencing factors, but the contribution of each question was different depending on the school level. Schools need to approach improving teacher- student relationships considering the results of the study.