Definition of Attitude

Wittrock (1986: 892) states that attitude is a stable characteristic of a person. Additionally, Noll (1957-1965: 351) states that attitudes are closely associated with feelings and emotional and are a large factor in determining our reactions and behavior, an attitude may be thought of as a response pattern, or a tendency to think or act in a particular way under a given circumstances. Furthermore, Johnson (1970: 83) explains that attitude is the organization of qualities (traits that the individual might express in terms of adjectives–ambitious, intelligent; and roles in which he places himself–father, professor, and the like) that the individual attributes to himself. Moreover, Travers (1970: 266) says that attitude is the affective objectives that emphasize a feeling: love, or emotion, or some degree of acceptance or rejection. Smith & Hudgins (1964: 464) clarify that attitude is an emotionalized tendency, organized through experience, to react positively or negatively toward a psychological object. Weinstein (1977: 272) explicates that attitude is the agreement, opinion or way of thinking toward something. Garrison, Kingston, and McDonald (1955-1964: 301) elucidate that attitudes relate to situations around which we have constructed behavior patterns and built up various concept and feelings.
From the experts’ definition above, the writer can conclude that attitude is a stable characteristics or traits of the individual that emphasize a feeling (love, emotion, agreement, evaluation, tendency to react positively and negatively, or some degree of acceptance or rejection) organized through experience and closely related aspects such as opinion and way of thinking toward something.

References:
Garrisson, Karl C., Kingston, Albert J., Mc Donald Arthur S. 1964. Educational Psychology. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts Division of Meredith Publishing Company.

Johnson, David W. 1970. The Social Psychology of Education. United States of America: University of Minnesota. Holt. Rinehart and Washington, Inc.

Noll, Victor H, 1957, 1965. Educational Measurement. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Smith, Louis. M. & Hudgins, Bryce. B. 1964. Educational Psychology. An Application of Social and Behavioral Theory. New York: Washington University. Alfred. A. Knopt.

Weinstein, Velon. 1977. A Teacher’s World. Psychology in the Classroom. Mc Graw-Hill, Inc.

Wittrock, Merlin C. 1986. Handbook of Research on Teaching. Third Edition. New York: Macmillian Library Reference USA.