Creencias Epistemológicas de Estudiantes de Pedagogía en Educación Parvularia, Básica y Media: ¿Diferencias en la Formación Inicial Docente?

Abstract

This study describes and compares the epistemological beliefs of preschool, middle, and high school pre-service teacher education students in a Chilean university. Data were collected through a questionnaire completed by 330 student teachers training in secondary education, first and final year of preschool education and primary education. They were men and women aged 17 to 38 years. Using univariate analysis of variance, comparisons were made according to the program of study and to the point at which the students were in their studies (first or final year). Association with age was evaluated by linear regression. Student teachers show the same differences found in a previous study among in-service teachers (Guerra, 2008): student teachers in secondary education have significantly more sophisticated epistemological beliefs than students of early childhood and primary education. No significant differences were found between freshmen and seniors, nor associated with the age of the students. The need for longitudinal studies in this area is discussed.