The purpose of this study is to examine early childhood teachers’ self-efficacy in
science teaching and the related factors that may contribute to this belief. Specifically, the
present study relies on a quantitative approach to investigate the predictor variables as
having both direct and indirect positive effects on the science teaching self-efficacy
beliefs of early childhood teachers.
The participants of this study are drawn from 263 early childhood teachers who
have taught in private and public kindergartens, and private, public, and cooperative
daycare centers in Korea. Three instruments were used for data collection: (1) Science
Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument modified for this study, (2) Scale of Emotional and
Material Support from teachers’ institutions modified for this study, and (3) Demographic
Questionnaire. Analysis of data is by basic statistics, factor analysis, reliability test and
Pearson’s correlation using SPSS 14.0. In addition, path analysis is applied to estimate
direct and indirect effects using Amos 6.0.
There are several derived conclusions from the findings of this study. These
conclusions follow: First, teachers’ internal factors, teachers’ characteristics, preferences
in teaching, teaching attitude toward early childhood science education, self-evaluation in
science teaching, are key predictor in this study to impact positively teachers’ selfefficacy
in science teaching, because teachers’ internal factors could be act on teachers’
self-efficacy encouragement as a direct predictor as well as could be expected its
mediated effects supported by other potential variables. Second, teachers’ educational
experiences are a significant predictor has a direct positive effect on science teaching
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self-efficacy. Additionally, theses experiences do have an indirect positive effect on selfefficacy
in teaching science when mediated by teachers’ internal factors. Third, support
from administrators and colleagues, and teaching resources are also important
reinforcements for good practices and acknowledge, explicitly effective for instruction of
science to teachers. Fourth, satisfaction with teachers’ work place stimulates teachers’
internal factors which influence teachers’ self-efficacy in science teaching. In addition,
teachers’ satisfaction has a correlation with their institutional support. Therefore,
teachers’ satisfaction with work places is also an important predictor which has the
probability of impacting teachers’ self-efficacy inspiration.