Achievement Anxiety of Prospective Teachers: A Research in the Context of Their Attitudes towards Public Staff Selection Examination

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the achievement anxiety of prospective teachers according to their attitudes to Public Staff Selection Examination (KPSS) and some demographic variables. The study group consists of 312 graduated and final year prospective teachers studying at different faculties of education and science and literature in Turkey. The data was collected by using Achievement Anxiety Scale, Public Staff Selection Examination Attitude Scale and personal information form that was prepared by the researcher. Relational screening method was used in the research. Analyzing the obtained findings, it was determined that there were significant relationships between facilitating achievement anxiety scores and debilitating achievement anxiety scores with KPSS attitude scale sub-dimensions. Besides, it was found that there were significant differences between their status of attending the KPSS course, daily study hours and the number of taking exams; whereas, it did not differ from the gender and department variables of prospective teachers' achievement anxiety. The findings were discussed within the scope of related literature and similar studies, then various proposals were brought forward.