Analysis of personality types and perceptions of social studies teacher candidates on lifelong learning competence (Manisa Celal Bayar University case)

Personality which is a combination of individual characteristics is decisive in the most critical choices in life. Success is also increased if the personality, which is of great importance in the choice of profession, coincides with the interests and abilities of the individual. One of the most important occupations in which personality traits are effective is teaching. A teacher who knows how to teach, knows his / her fields, follows current developments and develops himself will be the most important role model for lifelong learning for his / her students. Therefore, prospective teachers should be trained to become lifelong learners and teachers. The aim of this study was to determine the pre-service teachers' personality types (A and B type) and lifelong learning competence perceptions and to examine them according to various variables (gender, type of high school graduated, place of residence, maternal education status, father education status, family income). The research is a general survey type and relational survey model was used in the study. The study group of the research is composed of social studies teacher candidates of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade in Manisa Celal Bayar University Faculty of Education in 2018-2019 academic year. In the study, the whole study group was reached and therefore no sampling method was taken. The data collection tool used in the research consists of three parts. In the first part, Personal Information Form which includes demographic variables, in the second part, A and B Type Personality Scale consisting of 20 items, in the third part, Lifelong Learning Competence Scale (YBÖYÖ) 51 consisting of 51 items and 6 sub-dimensions. In the statistical package program; After the analysis with normality test, t-test and one-way ANOVA test and Chi-square test were used for independent groups to examine whether there was a significant difference according to various variables. Correlation analysis was conducted to determine whether there is a significant relationship between personality types and lifelong learning competency perceptions. As a result of the analyzes, significant differences were found between lifelong learning competency perceptions and place of residence, class level, family income level, father education level and personality type variables; gender, type of high school, mother education level. While the personality types of social studies teacher candidates differed according to class level, there was no any significant difference between variables of gender, type of high school graduated, place of residence, educational status of mother, educational status of father and family income. Key words: Lifelong Learning, Personality Types, Social Studies, Educational Sciences.