The relationship between pre-service teachers' work values and lifelong learning tendencies

Abstract

This study investigates the association between the pre-service teachers' work values and lifelong learning tendencies. The sample of the study consists of 248 pre-service teachers studying in three different universities (two states and one private) in Turkey in the academic year 2020-2021. They were selected through convenience sampling. The "Work Values Scale" and “Lifelong Learning Tendencies Scale” were used as data collection tools. Arithmetic means, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted. The findings indicated that extrinsic, social and leisure rewards were “fairly important” and intrinsic rewards were “very important” for pre-service teachers. On the other hand, pre-service teachers' opinion on willingness to learn for openness to improvement. There were weak and moderate level, positive and significant correlations between the dimensions of work values and lifelong learning tendencies. The regression analysis suggested that the effects of intrinsic and social rewards on motivation to learn and openness to improvement were significant. However, extrinsic and leisure rewards did not have significant effects on motivation to learn and openness to improvement. The findings were discussed based on the previous literature.