A Meta-analysis of the Antecedents of Teacher Turnover and Retention

Abstract

High teacher turnover in schools is a problem in many countries. Many studies have investigated various antecedent effects of turnover in isolation; however, few comparative assessments of the antecedents have been conducted. A meta-analysis was conducted to ascertain the relative power of effects between various antecedents, and turnover and retention behaviors and intentions. We observed variations in the strength of associations between antecedents and real turnover and retention compared to the associations between the same factors and intended turnover and retention. This discrepancy is likely attributed to the fact that involuntary turnover and retention, which may play a significant role in the teacher turnover crisis, cannot be adequately captured in studies focusing solely on intentions.