Investigating Preschool Teacher Candidates' Mathematics Literacy Self-Sufficiency Beliefs on Various Variables

Abstract

The research aims at determination of the level of the belief in self-sufficiency of the preschool teacher candidates regarding their mathematics literacy skills and the correlation of this belief in self-sufficiency and gender, class, preferring to have mathematics classes in undergraduate education and the field of graduation from high school. In this study, a quantitave descriptive design was used for the purpose of presenting the existing situation as it is. Sample of the research consists of 202 teacher candidates attending a preschool teaching program in 2012-2013 education year in a public university in Turkey. In the research, "Personal Information Form" and "Mathematics Literacy Self Sufficiency Scale" are used. In the statistical analysis of the study, Independent Samples T-Test and One-Way ANOVA and descriptive statistics were used. Preschool teacher candidates' ML self-sufficiency beliefs are significantly different on gender. Finding suggests that taking a mathematics-related class during university positively influences candidates' ML self-sufficiency beliefs. There is a significant difference of class type among participants' ML self-sufficiency beliefs. Also there is a significant difference between high school graduation field and ML self-sufficiency beliefs. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.