Investigation of Self-Efficacy Perceptions and Professional Attitudes of Teachers Working in Special Education Schools

Abstract

The study aims to determine the differentiation status of teachers working in private education institutions towards the teaching profession and their self-efficacy levels according to gender and professional seniority. For this purpose, 236 teachers working in private education institutions in Ankara, Mersin, and Konya provinces were randomly assigned to the study group. A comparative correlational design was used in the study. As a data collection tool; In order to measure the attitude towards the teaching profession, the "Attitude Scale" developed by Aşkar and Erdem in 1987 and the "Teaching Competence Scale" developed by Sünbül and Arslan (2006) were used. In the study, teacher candidates' perceptions of teaching efficacy were found to be medium, whereas their professional attitudes were found to be high. It has been understood that the attitudes and self-efficacy perceptions of the participant special education teachers towards the teaching profession differ according to their gender and professional seniority. Finally, significant relationships were found between special education teachers' attitudes toward the teaching profession and their self-efficacy perceptions.