Preschool teacher candidates 'attitudes towards science education and investigation of the relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and level of learning styles

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between pre-school teacher candidates' attitudes towards science education, levels of self-efficacy beliefs and learning styles. The sample of this study, based on the relational research model, was carried out with a total of 193 (165 female, 28 male) pre-school teacher candidates studying in the first, second, third and fourth grade at the Faculty of Education in a state university. The data was developed by Enochs and Rings (1990) and adapted into Turkish by Özkan, Tekkaya, and Çakıroğlu (2002) in the spring semester of the 2019-2020 academic year, "Science Education Self-Efficacy Scale" was developed by Thompson and Shringley (1986). It was collected using the "Science Education Attitude Scale" adapted to Turkish by Tekkaya and Çakıroğlu (2002) and the "Kolb Learning Styles Inventory" developed by Kolb (1984) and adapted into Turkish by Evin Gencel (2007). Descriptive statistical analysis and predictive statistical analysis were used in the statistical calculations of the data obtained in the study. As a result of the study, it was determined that pre-school teacher candidates' self-efficacy beliefs towards science education were very high, while their personal self-efficacy beliefs and result expectation sub-dimensions were high. In addition, the results of the analysis showed that pre-school teacher candidates developed a positive attitude towards science education and had different learning styles. In addition, it was determined that there was no significant relationship between pre-school teacher candidates' attitudes towards science education and their self-efficacy beliefs, and only the learning styles of the pre-service teachers differ. Based on the results obtained, learning environments can be arranged according to learning styles in order for prospective teachers to reach the desired goals in science education; Studies can be conducted to increase the attitude and self-efficacy belief levels towards science education.