A Scaling of Preservice Teachers’ Motivational Factors in Choosing the Teaching Profession

Abstract

In this research, the reasons of preservice teachers’ choice of the teaching profession has been studied using the method of pair-wise comparison. Data was acquired by 1137 preservice teachers studying in various departments of seven different universities in Turkey. Overall, it was found that preservice teachers have chosen the teaching profession due to easy work conditions. It was found that female preservice teachers chose the teaching profession because of their sympathy towards it, whereas male preservice teachers chose it since their university admission exam scores were just enough for teaching programs. According to the departments of faculties of education, it was determined that psychological counseling and guidance department preservice teachers chose the teaching profession since it ensured employment, Turkish and English teaching department preservice teachers chose it since they liked it, primary school teachers and primary Math preservice teachers chose it because the work conditions were convenient. According to the places they lived in and the departments, there was no hierarchy regarding reasons why they choose the teaching profession. When the reasons of choosing the teaching profession according to level of income were examined the results that the first reason was the same in all three departments. While this was the seventh reason for the preservice teachers who had teachers in their families, it was the eighth reason for the preservice teachers who didn’t have any relatives who are teachers.