Who chooses teacher education and why? Evidence from Germany

Savage, C. , Ayaita, A., Hübner, N. and Biewen, M. (2021) Who chooses teacher education and why? Evidence from Germany. Educational Researcher, 50(7), pp. 483-487. (doi: 10.3102/0013189X211000758)

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Abstract

Empirically rigorous research on teacher education entry is extremely limited. Evidence on who enters teacher education and why is crucial for identifying undesired gaps in entry and can assist with teacher recruitment. Grounded in prior research, we identified four primary groups of relevant individual-level variables: student/family background, achievement/abilities, personality, and motivation. We empirically tested this conceptual model using rich data from a national cohort of German ninth-graders followed to college/university and their parents. Our study is the first to predict eventual teacher education entry early in secondary school. Although those students who eventually entered teacher education were significantly different from their counterparts across most variables, fewer were conditionally predictive. Social interests, desired working conditions, desire to have children, and students’ parents were particularly influential. Implications for research and teacher recruitment are discussed.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Savage, Dr Corey
Authors: Savage, C., Ayaita, A., Hübner, N., and Biewen, M.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Educational Leadership & Policy
Journal Name:Educational Researcher
Publisher:SAGE Publications
ISSN:0013-189X
ISSN (Online):1935-102X
Published Online:15 March 2021

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