Pre-Service Basic Science Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Beliefs and Attitudes towards Science Teaching

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to explore preservice basic pre-service science teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs and attitude regarding science teaching. Data were collected by administering science teaching self-efficacy beliefs and attitude towards science teaching instruments to 100 pre-service basic science teachers (92 males and 8females). Descriptive statistical techniques such as mean scores, standard deviations and percentages were used to analyse the data. Results of the study showed that the pre-service basic science teachers have very high level of self-efficacy beliefs and positive attitudes towards basic science teaching. However, the respondents had some reservations about their ability to facilitate hands-on activities and laboratory work in their future science lessons. It was recommended that science tutors should integrate science content into their science methods courses to improve the pre-service teachers’ science content and pedagogical content knowledge.