Research Hypotheses
The following hypotheses are formulated based on Ramey-Gassert et al.’s (1996)
“Factors influencing science teaching self-efficacy model.” It is adapted to fit a model of
predicting of early childhood teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs.
Hypothesis 1
1. Teachers’ internal factors have a direct positive effect on self-efficacy in early
childhood educators’ science teaching.
Hypothesis 2
2. Teachers’ educational experiences in early childhood science education have direct and
indirect positive effect on self-efficacy in science teaching.
2-1 Teachers’ educational experiences in early childhood science education have a
direct positive effect on self-efficacy in science teaching.
2-2 Teachers’ educational experiences in early childhood science education have an
indirect positive effect on self-efficacy in science teaching mediated by
teachers’ internal factors.
Hypothesis 3
3. The support teachers receive from their institutions has direct and indirect positive
effects on self-efficacy in early childhood educators’ science teaching.
3-1 The support teachers receive from their institutions has a direct positive effect
on self-efficacy in early childhood educators’ science teaching.
3-2 The support from teachers’ institutions has an indirect positive effect on self14
efficacy of early childhood educators’ science teaching mediated by teachers’
internal factors.
3-3 The support from teachers’ institutions has an indirect positive effect on selfefficacy
of early childhood educators’ science teaching mediated by teachers’
educational experience in early childhood science education.
Hypothesis 4
4. Teachers’ satisfaction with their work places has direct and indirect positive effects on
self-efficacy in early childhood educators’ science teaching.
4-1. Teachers’ satisfaction with their work places has a direct positive effect on selfefficacy
in early childhood educators’ science teaching.
4-2. Teachers’ satisfaction with their work places has an indirect positive effect on
self-efficacy for early childhood educators’ science teaching mediated by
teachers’ internal factors.
4-3 Teachers’ satisfaction with their work places have a indirect positive effect on
self-efficacy for early childhood educators’ science teaching mediated by
teachers’ educational experience.
Limitations of the Study
Although this study has some significant needs and purposes, it also includes several
limitations. The limitations of this study are:
1. This study is limited to a self-selected sample of teachers who volunteered to