Do Gender and Department Make a Difference in Achievement Goal Orientations of Turkish Prospective Teachers

Abstract

This study aims to determine the achievement goal orientation of prospective Turkish teachers in terms of department and gender variables. The research was a cross-sectional study with 335 prospective teachers studying nine different teaching programs. Achievement goal orientations scale was used as a data collection tool. Descriptive statistical methods, one-way ANOVA, Tukey, and independent groups t-test were used in data analysis. A significant difference was determined among female and male prospective teachers' learning goal orientation and performance-avoidance goal orientation. The average of prospective female teachers in learning goal orientation was higher, while the average of male teacher candidates was higher in the dimension of performance-avoidance goal orientation. The learning goal orientations of the prospective teachers show a significant difference between the science teaching and mathematics teaching departments. Accordingly, science teachers have higher scores.