An Investigation of Non-Thesis Master's Program Geography Teacher Candidates' Attitudes towards Teaching Profession regarding Several Socio-Cultural Features

The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes of non-thesis master's degree program: geography teacher candidates towards teaching profession regarding several socio-cultural features. The study was conducted in different universities with 218 geography teacher candidates enrolled in the geography education non-thesis master's degree program. The study was made by survey model. Data were collected by the "Attitude Scales Towards Teaching Profession" developed by Cetin (2006) and "Personal Information Form" developed by the authors. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA (the one-way analysis of variance) (F) and LSD (least significant difference) techniques. The results are given as follows: (1) The average of candidates' attitude grades are in favor of female candidates; (2) There is no difference between whether candidates work at a job; (3) According to variables of the types of high school graduated, educational level of the parents, occupations, income level and living place, there is no difference in candidates' attitudes scores; and (4) Candidates enrolled in the geography education non-thesis master's degree program reason of preference influence on attitudes to teaching profession. (Contains 19 tables.)