Factors affecting pre-service teachers’ choice of teaching as a profession

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find out the factors affecting pre-service teachers’ choice of teaching as a profession. Besides, whether the factors change with respect to pre-service teachers’ gender was also investigated. The study was carried out at the beginning of the fall semester of 2009-2010 academic year with pre-service teachers enrolling to programs including primary teaching, science teaching, social sciences teaching, English teaching, Turkish teaching and preschool teaching. Data of the study were gathered from 855 pre-service teachers; 509 females and 346 males, with a Likert type questionnaire consisting of four factors; consciousness, assurance, ideal and influence. Descriptive; frequency distributions and percentages, and inferential statistics; independent samples t-test were used to analyze the data obtained. Results revealed that significant differences exist between females and males in terms of consciousness, assurance and ideal factors in favor of females.