Preservice Teachers’ Risk Perceptions and Willingness to Use Educational Technologies: A Belief System Approach

Abstract

One of the beliefs that is responsible for teachers’ resistance to educational technologies (Ets) is risk perceptions. The purpose of present study was to understand the predictive power of risk perceptions for pre-service teachers (PTs)’ willingness to use Ets. We developed a questionnaire covering three sections: personal information, willingness to use Ets and risk perceptions. We administered this questionnaire to 425 Turkish PTs from different backgrounds (STEM and non-STEM branches). We benefited from factor analysis and hierarchical regression for data analyses. The results of factor analyze showed that six dimensions (dread, unnatural consequences, negative impacts on learning, noneducational purposes, traditional education and first-time use) constituted the PTs’ risk perceptions. The regression results showed that certain risk perception dimensions were predictors of willingness to use Ets. At the end of the paper, we suggested implications based on enhancement strategies for teacher epistemology and risk mitigation opportunities.