A Study on Developing Self-Efficacy Scale in the Context of Science Specific Field Competencies

Abstract

In 2008, the MoNE published the science specific field competencies; it is aimed to determine and guide the development targets expected of science teachers and prospective teachers. It is important that teachers adopt competencies and have high belief in their ability to practice them. It is believed that teacher self-efficacy is one of the factors affecting the designing of active learning environment, directing students to the inquiry, the training of individuals who can solve the problems and implementing specific field competence successfully. While it was determined, studies on specific field competencies in the literature were not aimed at performance indicators, studies on self-efficacy were scale adaptation. This study aims to develop self-efficacy scales on science specific field competencies. The study was conducted with 366 pre-service science teachers. The performance indicators selected from specific field competencies were converted to scale items according to expert opinions and a 35-item pilot scale was prepared. 21 items that were constructed and validated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were included in the last scale. The internal consistency coefficient of the final scale is 0.88. It has been determined that the scale developed could be used by science teachers and prospective science teachers to identify their self-efficacy towards specific field competencies.