Examining Teachers' Professional Motivation Levels

Abstract

Motivation is a fundamental research topic in many branches of social sciences, especially in the fields of education, business, psychology and social studies. Research shows that motivation plays a critical role in understanding individual and group behavior. The concept of motivation, which is discussed in the field of management to increase the job performance of employees, is discussed in the field of education to increase the academic success and desire to work of students and teachers. The teaching profession differs from many other professions in terms of its psychological and sociological dynamics. Interaction with students, colleagues, families and other education stakeholders constitutes one of the core competencies of the teaching profession. Teacher motivation is vital to educational success and student achievement. In this context, a comprehensive examination of the factors affecting teacher motivation is a critical step to improving the quality of education. The study used a screening model to determine teachers' professional motivation levels. The population of the research consists of a group of 278 teachers working in different schools in Diyarbakır. "The Teacher Professional Motivation Scale" was used to determine the opinions of actively working teachers regarding their professional motivation. In general, teachers have a positive perspective in areas such as the quality of the physical environment in their schools, the level of appreciation of the work done, and student achievement levels. However, there are opportunities for improvement in some areas, such as the level of professional cooperation and solidarity of teachers and the level of support provided by parents to the school. In addition to the prominent positive aspects, teachers' perceptions of access to new technologies and their evaluations of workload are remarkable. At these points, providing support and resources for teachers more effectively can contribute to increasing the love and respect they feel for their profession and their overall professional satisfaction.