Comparison of self-efficacy between male and female pre-service early childhood teachers

Abstract

Teaching in early childhood classrooms is a female-dominated job all over the world. The aim of this study is to compare male and female pre-service early childhood teachers' sense of self-efficacy. The study sample of 451 pre-service teachers consisted of 231 female and 220 males. The Turkish-language version of the Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale (TTSES) was used for data collection. The results indicate a significant difference between the male and female respondents' overall sense of self-efficacy, as well as their sense of self-efficacy relating to the specific area of classroom management. However, no significant differences were found in males' and females' sense of self-efficacy with regard to student engagement or instructional strategies.