Preservice biology teachers? misconceptions, self-efficacy beliefs and attitude toward biology teaching in biology subjects

The purpose of this study was to explore preservice biology teachers? misconceptions in biology subjects, self efficacy beliefs and attitude toward biology teaching. It was investigated whether there were significant differences among male and female preservice biology teachers, level of teaching year and types of graduate secondary school with regard to biology teachers? biology knowledge level, self-efficacy beliefs and attitude toward biology teaching. In addition, also the relationships among biology knowledge level, self-efficacy beliefs and attitudes toward biology teaching was investigated.The present study was conducted at 2007 - 2008 academic year with a total number of 127 first-year, second-year, third-year, fourth-year and fifth-year preservice biology teachers who enrolled at biology teacher education programs of Gazi University, Faculty of Gazi Education. Data were collected utilizing three questionnaires: the Biology Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument, Biology Concept Test, and Biology Teaching Attitude Scale. Descriptive statistics, Independent t-test, correlation and analysis of variance were used in data analysis.Data analysis showed that they had moderate level of biology achievement. They had some misconceptions in ecology, cell division, ATP, metabolism, protein sythesis, excretion system, digestion system, circulatory system, nitrogen cycle, inheritance, plant biology, evolution, photosythesis, chemosythesis, plant tissues, classification of living things subjects. They had moderate sense of self-efficacy beliefs in teaching biology and positive attitude toward biology teaching. In addition, there were positive and significant relationships among preservice biology teachers?level of achievement, attitude toward biology teaching and their efficacy beliefs regarding biology teaching.Key Words : Biology teaching, preservice biology teachers, misconception, self efficacy belief, attitude.