The relationship between pre-service teacher’s psychological types, critical thinking abilities, and teacher efficacy on perceived performance.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between pre-service teacher’s psychological types, critical thinking abilities, and teacher efficacy on perceived performance.

The accessible sample was purposively selected and consisted of pre-service teachers enrolled in the spring 2008 agricultural education teacher preparatory program at Texas Tech University. There were 21 purposively selected pre-service teachers and there was an accessible sample of 15 pre-service teachers (N = 15). All participants received the same resources and preparation.

Data were collected using multiple instruments. The instruments included the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®), the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA®), the Ohio State Teacher Efficacy Scale (OSTES), a researcher developed perceived teacher performance scale, and researcher developed student academic achievement tests. Researchers developed a unit of instruction pertaining to natural resources. All necessary materials were given to pre-service teachers on a compact disc.

Pre-service teachers’ perceived teacher performance scores on average were directly in the center of the scale and pre-service teacher response was on average a 7.4 which falls at “quite a bit†on the scale. The average gain by students ranged from 9.50 to 25.75. The average response by pre-service teachers indicated “quite a bit†of confidence in their abilities or their perceived performance.

Many relationships were found to be present between teaching characteristics of pre-service teachers and teaching outcomes. Teacher efficacy does indeed have an affect on academic achievement of students. The more efficacious pre-service teachers are the more students tend to achieve academically. Also, if they felt confident in their abilities before (with teacher efficacy) and after (with perceived performance) the more successful they were.