Dutch beginning teachers’ intrinsic orientation for the profession: Measurement and consistency during the first year

Abstract

Compared to the disseminated studies on teacher motivation and positive emotion as separate dimensions, the knowledge base about teachers' intrinsic orientation to the profession (TIOP) as a compound trait is relatively underrepresented in the literature. Particularly, little is known regarding TIOP at the start of teaching trajectories. The present study sought to develop a reliable and valid TIOP scale based on self-determination theory and teaching effectiveness perspectives. By combining three existing subscales, the compound scale of TIOP was designed to measure the hypothesized value-related cognitive (i.e., the value and meaningfulness added to the profession) and the feeling-related affective (i.e., the positive affection experienced from the teaching activity and the subject) dimensions of TIOP. Furthermore, this study aimed to provide empirical evidence concerning the predictive validity and trait consistency of TIOP. The study included 271 Dutch beginning teachers in secondary education at the beginning and the end of their first career year, by means of self-report scales and classroom observation. The analysis results confirm that TIOP can be reliably and validly measured in terms of the three subdimensions of autonomous motivation, enthusiasm for teaching and for the subject. Additionally, TIOP was found to be a consistent teacher quality over the first year of teaching profession and can validly predict teachers’ self-efficacy. However, the results also reveal a possible discrepancy between ‘an enthusiastic and motivated teacher’ and ‘a teacher with effective teaching skills’. In sum, TIOP can provide a relatively explicit and quantified picture of teachers’ global psychological processes and functioning on a long-term basis.