ERIC Number: EJ1376108
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0007-1005
EISSN: EISSN-1467-8527
To Stay or Not to Stay: An Empirical Model for Predicting Teacher Persistence
Saks, Katrin; Hunt, Pihel; Leijen, Äli; Lepp, Liina
British Journal of Educational Studies, v70 n6 p693-717 2022
Teacher persistence has been a growing issue in recent decades. This raises the problem of the sustainability of the teaching workforce, the professionalism of working teachers and preserving the quality of education. In this study we aim to create and test an empirical model that makes it possible to predict teachers' plans to remain in or leave the profession. Proceeding from earlier research, this study focuses on investigating the role of motivations, job demands, and school climate as potential factors of teacher retention. A sample of 373 teachers responded to an electronic questionnaire compiled using questions from FIT-Choice, Norwegian Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Delaware School Climate Survey. Structural equation modelling was applied to find the model that predicts teachers' plans to remain in or leave the profession. The findings revealed two main factors -- the combination of perceived teaching ability and intrinsic motivation, and job security -- that have a positive impact on plans to continue teaching. Perceived teaching ability and intrinsic motivation, in turn, is affected by relations with students and maintaining discipline in class. Emotional exhaustion and workload impacting the latter, predict the risk of attrition. Contrary to earlier research, age and years of teaching experience appeared to be unrelated to plans to continue teaching.
Descriptors: Teacher Persistence, Predictor Variables, Models, Teacher Motivation, Job Security, Faculty Workload, Educational Environment, Teaching Skills, Classroom Techniques, Fatigue (Biology), Faculty Mobility, Teacher Burnout, Elementary School Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Foreign Countries
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Estonia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A