The relationship between secondary school teachers autonomy behaviour and job satisfaction

In this study, it is aimed to determine the relationship between teacher autonomy and job satisfaction of the teachers. Research is based on the survey model. As a sample, 354 teachers from different schools of the Balikesir city have participated. As a data collecting method, Teacher Autonomy Scale and Job Satisfaction Scale are used. In order to investigate the Teacher Autonomy Behavior and Job Satisfaction; descriptive statistics and for comparisons; t tests, ANOVA, Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis H are used. So as to determine if teacher autonomy behaviors predict job satisfaction properly, multiple regression analysis is utilized. Based on the findings of the research, general teacher autonomy behaviors are greater than the middle level. Among the teacher autonomy behaviors, the most participated ones are professional communication autonomy, teaching process autonomy, curriculum autonomy and professional development autonomy. Opinions of the teachers related to teacher autonomy behavior, according to the school type parameters, gender, educational background, branch, seniority and age indicate meaningful difference in terms of statistically. On the other hand, according to the weekly course load and period of service in the school, do not. Teachers participated to the research have more job satisfaction compared to middle level. Opinions of the teachers related to job satisfaction, according to the gender show reasonable variation as a statistical data; however, according to the school type parameters, educational background, seniority, weekly course load, period of service in the school, branch and age parameters, do not. It is found that there is a positive and middle relation among communication autonomy of the teachers, professional development autonomy and teaching process autonomy and job satisfaction. Also, positive and low level connection between curriculum autonomy and job satisfaction is established. Professional communication autonomy and professional development autonomy are meaningful predictors of the job satisfaction of the teachers. Keywords: Job Satisfaction, teacher, teacher autonomy