Self-Efficacy, Anxiety Level, and Research Attitude of Pre-Service Teachers

Abstract

The aim of conducting this study is to identify and describe the level of self-efficacy, level of anxiety and attitude toward research of the third year pre-service teachers. Employing the descriptive cross- sectional method of research, a survey questionnaire developed by the researchers based on the questionnaire adapted from Ozturk Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Educators’ Attitudes toward Educational Scale and Papanastasiou’s Attitude Toward Research (ATR) Scale was administered to 154 pre-service teachers. The results of the study revealed that the students taking Methods of Research in Education have a high level of anxiety in conducting research; they have an average self-efficacy or one’s ability to perform specific research activities and have positive attitude toward research. Furthermore, the data showed that there is no significant relationship between level of anxiety and level of self-efficacy towards research of the respondents. Likewise, the results also show that no significant relationship exists between research self-efficacy and attitude towards research and level of anxiety and attitude towards research of respondents. However, a significant relationship exists between respondents’ self-efficacy and respondents’ attitudes towards research. Results were utilized for the innovation of the programs and activities to improve the self-efficacy and attitudes of the respondents toward research. Keywords: