Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between the pre-service teachers’ critical thinking disposition, problem-solving skills and self-efficacy beliefs. The participants of the study were 519 pre-service teachers from Afyon Kocatepe University, Education Faculty. Critical Thinking Disposition, Problem Solving Inventory, and Teacher Self-efficacy Scale were used to collect the data. Arithmetic mean, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis were employed in data analysis. The results of the study revealed that the pre-service teachers’ critical thinking disposition was low, problem-solving skills were moderate and teacher self-efficacy perceptions were quite adequate. However, the critical thinking disposition and problem-solving skills revealed significant positive correlations with all dimensions of teacher self-efficacy. An important finding is that critical thinking disposition and problem-solving skills were positive and significant predictors of all sub-dimensions of teacher self-efficacy beliefs.
Highlights
Teacher self-efficacy beliefs are teachers’ beliefs on how learners can learn and improve their achievements (Bergman, McLaughlin, Bass, Pauly, & Zellman, 1977; Ruble, Usher, & McGrew, 2011)
These studies show that critical thinking disposition and problem-solving skills are related to self-efficacy of teachers
Exposing the predictive power of problem-solving skills and critical thinking disposition over self-efficacy of teachers may contribute to determining effective policies for problem solving and the development of critical thinking disposition
Summary
Teacher self-efficacy beliefs are teachers’ beliefs on how learners can learn and improve their achievements (Bergman, McLaughlin, Bass, Pauly, & Zellman, 1977; Ruble, Usher, & McGrew, 2011). There are a number of studies investigating the relationship between critical thinking skills and self-efficacy (Zangenehvandi, Farahian & Gholami, 2014; Kezer, Oğurlu, Akfırat, 2016; Manalo, Kusumi, Koyasu, Michita & Tanaka, 2013; Phan, 2009; Srisawad, Ratanaolarn & Kıddee, 2016; Varandi, Mehrali, 2013;Dehghani, Pakmehr & Malekzadeh, 2011) and relationship between problem solving skills and self-efficacy (Altunçekiç, Yaman, Koray, 2005; Aylar & Aksin, 2011; Kesicioğlu & Güven, 2014; Yenice, 2012). The relationship between critical thinking, problem-solving skills and self-efficacy, and predictive power of critical thinking and problem solving skills as independent variables on ies.ccsenet.org
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
