Examining the Relationship between Pre-Service Teachers’ Critical Thinking Disposition, Problem Solving Skills and Teacher Self-Efficacy

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between the pre-service teachers’ critical thinking disposition, problem-solving skills and self-efficacy beliefs. The participants of the study were 519 pre-service teachers from Afyon Kocatepe University, Education Faculty. Critical Thinking Disposition, Problem Solving Inventory, and Teacher Self-efficacy Scale were used to collect the data. Arithmetic mean, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis were employed in data analysis. The results of the study revealed that the pre-service teachers’ critical thinking disposition was low, problem-solving skills were moderate and teacher self-efficacy perceptions were quite adequate. However, the critical thinking disposition and problem-solving skills revealed significant positive correlations with all dimensions of teacher self-efficacy. An important finding is that critical thinking disposition and problem-solving skills were positive and significant predictors of all sub-dimensions of teacher self-efficacy beliefs.