ERIC Number: EJ1248480
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2332-8584
EISSN: N/A
Connections and Capacity: An Exploration of Preservice Teachers' Sense of Belonging, Social Networks, and Self-Efficacy in Three Teacher Education Programs
Bjorklund, Peter, Jr.; Daly, Alan J.; Ambrose, Rebecca; van Es, Elizabeth A.
AERA Open, v6 n1 Jan-Mar 2020
Learning to teach is rife with challenges. Preservice teachers' self-efficacy can potentially mitigate the stress of these challenges, and teacher education programs are fundamental in helping them build this important resource. As such, understanding the foundations of self-efficacy is important for researchers and teacher educators alike. Grounding our study in social network theory, we explored the relationship between sense of belonging to a teacher education program, network centrality, and self-efficacy. Our sample included 245 preservice teachers in three university teacher education programs. We found that sense of belonging to the program and network centrality (in-degree and out-degree) were significantly and positively related to preservice teachers' self-efficacy beliefs. This study builds on a growing literature that explores the relationships between preservice teachers' social networks and their beliefs and practices.
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Sense of Community, Social Networks, Self Efficacy, Teacher Education Programs, Correlation, Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Social Support Groups, Peer Relationship
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A