The Relationship between the Levels of Self-efficacy Beliefs of Pre-service Teachers and their Levels of Determining Suitable Taxonomy, Strategy, and Method-technique for Science Objectives

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the level of pre-service primary school teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs in science teaching and their level of determining taxonomy, strategy, and teaching methods-techniques for the curriculum’s objectives in primary science education. A total of 101 pre-service teachers who were enrolled in the third and fourth grade of the department of primary school teachers in the 2017–2018 academic year at a private university in Gaziantep, Turkey participated in this study. The level of teacher candidates’ self-efficacy beliefs toward science teaching was determined through the “Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument.” In addition, teacher candidates’ levels and reasons for determining the appropriate taxonomy, strategies, methods, and techniques while teaching the objectives in the science curriculum were examined through “form of determining suitable taxonomy, strategy, and method-techniques for objective.” Therefore, qualitative and quantitative data were examined together. This was a correlational study but it was enriched through qualitative data. Results showed that pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs toward science teaching and determination levels of appropriate taxonomy, strategy, and teaching methods-techniques were relatively high. In addition, a statistically weak but positive relationship was found between these two variables. As a result, it is recommended to give more importance to these courses in teacher education of pre-service primary school teachers.