The exploration of the attitudes of the science teacher candidates towards teaching profession

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine prospective science teachers' attitudes towards teaching professiion in terms of different variables. This research was designed as a descriptive study. Participants in the study group were selected among the students who were attending the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades in the Department of Science Teaching, Faculty of Education, Ahi Evran University during the 2011-2012 academic year. While forming the study group, maximum variation sampling, which is one of the purposive sampling methods, was used. Data of the study were collectedc using the "Attitude Scale towards Teaching Profession" which was developed by Ozgur (1994). In the analysis of the data collected, descriptive and inferential statistics via SPSS 15.0 Package Program were utilized. According to the study results, there was no statistically significant difference between prospective science teachers' points related to their attitudes towards teaching profession and gender, general academic average, family's monthlly income and where they lived before university. However, a statistically significant difference was observed between their attitude points and their departments. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu