Open AccessMotivations to Become a Teacher in Finland, Sweden, and the United States
Author(s) -
Jason Giersch,
Carina Carlhed Ydhag,
Vesa Korhonen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nordic studies in education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.195
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 1891-5949
pISSN - 1891-5914
DOI - 10.23865/nse.v41.2200
Subject(s) - exploratory research , sample (material) , scale (ratio) , psychology , teacher education , pedagogy , political science , mathematics education , sociology , geography , social science , chemistry , cartography , chromatography
How does the motivation to become a teacher vary across countries? We conducted an exploratory study among aspiring teachers in three countries to explore the possibility of detecting differences in teacher motivation across education policy contexts. Using the FIT-Choice Scale developed by Watt and Richardson (2007), we found that participants in Finland and Sweden expressed different impressions of and attractions to the teaching profession. A sample from the United States revealed further differences still. Between-country differences were significant. Using these results, we suggest further comparative analyses regarding policy and the motivations of teacher candidates.