The comparison of science literacy levels of primary teacher candidates and science teaching self efficacy beliefs

In this research, it is aimed to compare of primary teacher candidates' self-efficacy belief of science teaching and their science literacy levels. This research is a quantitative research. It has been shaped in relational screening model. The working group in the research consists of 278 teacher candidates, who are studying in the undergraduate program of the primary school teaching of Basic Education Department of Black Sea Technical University. Accordingly, two data collection tools that one is five-likert types and the other is multiple choice test, have been developed. The implementation step of the research was carried out during the autumn semester of the academic year 2016-2017. After acquired datum is analyzed in the IBM SPSS v22 program, the results have been discussed and presented in the light of literature. As a result of the research, a positive and significant relationship has been found between science literacy levels and self-efficacy beliefs of science teaching of primary teacher candidates. On the other hand, in subproblems of the research, the level of science literacy of classroom teachers is in sufficient level and their levels of self-efficacy beliefs and science teaching are high. There is no significant difference in gender variable in two contexts, but there is a significant difference in class and academic mean variables.