INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHERS’ SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS AND EFFICACY FOR INCLUSION

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs and efficacy for inclusion education. Study participants included a total of 1204 teachers taken from preschool, classroom, subject-matter and special-education departments from schools in four different geographical regions of Turkey. Data were collected using the Teachers Sense of Efficacy (TSE) Scale and the Teacher Efficacy for Inclusion Practices (TEI) Scale. The results revealed a significant relationship between the teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs and efficacy for inclusion. The levels of self-efficacy and efficacy regarding the inclusion of the teachers were higher for female teachers, experienced teachers, teachers who had taken previous courses about special education, and the teachers who have previously interacted with an individual with special needs. In addition, the efficacy level of novice teachers regarding inclusion was found to be higher than that of more experienced teachers. Article visualizations: