Self-efficacy beliefs of students of primary school teaching department regarding mathematics and teaching mathematics

Murat A. Ellez

African Educational Research Journal
Published: October 26 2020
Volume 8, Issue 4
Pages 747-753
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30918/AERJ.84.20.165

Abstract

Prospective teachers’ attitudes and beliefs regarding self-efficacy beliefs become the basis of their attitudes in their professional lives, as they affect their students’ attitudes and self-efficacy. The aim of this study is to determine the primary teacher training students’ attitudes towards mathematics and self-efficacy beliefs regarding teaching math and the relationship among them. The “Relational Scanning Model” is used in the study. Data is collected from 290 students who were studying in the Primary Education Department of 9 Eylül University, Buca Faculty of Education. Mathematics Attitude Scale and Self-efficacy Belief Scale towards Teaching Mathematics are used to gather data. SPSS 22 was used for data analyses. T-test used for identifying significance of differences, and the Pearson correlation coefficient by means of different aspects. Results showed no differences by gender in attitudes towards math and self-efficacy beliefs regarding teaching math of the students who completed the survey. However, although Primary Education prospective teachers scores were higher in their attitude points and self–efficacy towards math teaching, a significant difference between pre-school and primary school prospective teachers. Besides, results revealed a relationship between attitude and self-efficacy beliefs regarding math. To further research, it is recommended that the same surveys should be done with different groups and the larger sample sizes.

Keywords: Attitude towards math, self-efficacy beliefs, prospective teachers.

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