Examining the teacher efficacy and achievement goals as predictors of Turkish student teachers’ conceptions about teaching and learning

Abstract: Based on the fact that the relationships among student teachers’ efficacy beliefs, achievement goals, and conceptions about teaching and learning has remained to be investigated to date, this study aimed to examine student teachers ’ efficacy beliefs and achievement goals as predictors of their conceptions about teaching and learning. Results of the present study showed that student teachers ’ conceptions about teaching and learning are significantly predicted by their efficacy beliefs and achievement goals. Results also demonstrated that the effects of student teachers ’ efficacy beliefs and motivational beliefs on their conceptions about teaching and learning vary as a function of the fields of study, indicating that the effects of both efficacy beliefs and motivational beliefs on student teachers ’ conceptions about teaching and learning are domain-specific. Overall results of the study suggested that the relationships among teacher efficacy, motivational beliefs, and conceptions about teaching and learning are not negligible. Implications for teacher education an