PROSPECTIVE SCIENCE TEACHERS’ VIEWS ON CAREER PLANNING AND THEIR SELF-EFFICACY LEVELS FOR CAREER DECISION-MAKING

Abstract

The aim of this survey study was to determine prospective science teachers’ competencylevels in making career decisions and to determine their views on career planning. Theparticipants were 88 prospective middle school science teachers enrolled at the ScienceTeaching Program of a state university during the spring 2018. The data were collected throughthe Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSS) (Ulaş & Yıldırım, 2016) and openended, written extended response questions prepared by the researcher. The findings revealedthat for career decision-making, the participants had high efficacy levels; they werepredominantly doing their own career planning; and that they were influenced by their familymembers’ views. They envisioned career planning as a long-term process starting at birth andencompassing the whole school and professional lives. The majority thought that their careerdecisions affected every aspect of their lives.