DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/22NB-CC81
Defense Date
2011
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Education
First Advisor
Michael D. Davis
Abstract
Teacher education remains a significant issue affecting the quality of geography instruction in the United States. Teachers’ self-efficacy has been identified as a crucial factor for improving teacher education and promoting educational reform. This study intended to develop a better understanding of the relationships between teacher education programs and secondary history/social studies teachers’ self-efficacy regarding teaching geography, and other demographic factors that could be a possible influence on geography teachers’ self-efficacy. A quantitative research methodology was employed to measure geography teacher efficacy and to explore factors that influence geography teachers’ efficacy in order to identify ways in which preservice and in-service education might better prepare geography teachers. The instrument, the Geography Teaching Belief Instrument (GTEBI), used for data collection was an online survey that was modified from a Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI_A) to assess secondary history/social studies teachers’ perceptions of their self-efficacy in geography teaching. Data were gathered from secondary history/social teachers in Virginia. Critical influential factors, geography-related conferences (p<.014), approved teacher licensure education programs (p<.038), and years of teaching experience in geography (p<.004) were found to have a statistically significant relationship with personal geography teaching efficacy. Only the factor, years of teaching experience in geography (p<.002), was found to have a significant relationship with geography teaching outcome expectancy. Findings could result in better teacher education programs for secondary history/social studies teachers in geography teaching and lead to more effective curriculum and instructional practices in teaching geography, thus benefiting student achievement.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
November 2011