Exploration of Science Teaching Self-Efficacy Sources from Multiple Narratives of Professional Development Experiences

Professional developments are effective interventions for exposing teachers to self-efficacy sources that align with innovative (e.g., inquiry-based) science pedagogies. However, in many situations, teachers are tasked with implementing innovative science practices without consistent and enduring professional development experiences. The study explored science teaching self-efficacy sources in situations where provision of professional developments is inconsistent and circumstantial. In this multi-case study, self-efficacy sources were explored through narratives of science teachers and key educational administrators. Participants’ real-life experiences with professional development (PD) were analysed to identify and understand the sources of self-efficacy they found most significant. It examined the nature, types, and relevance of these sources without imposing external control. The study context emphasized regular, mandatory PD experiences for teachers, but participants were not currently undergoing any PD experiences. The study used a mixed sampling method to select 18 science teachers, 12 head teachers, four circuit supervisors, 3 science coordinators, and four deputy directors and director of education in urban and rural Ghana. The findings indicated that nearly all PD experiences embedded and exposed instructors to various sources of science teaching self-efficacy, with the highest being traditional-oriented cognitive content mastery (63.4%) and cognitive pedagogical mastery (65.9%). The majority of PD experiences were brief, with most lasting no more than five days, and often involved multiple subjects rather than focusing specifically on science. Overall, the study highlights the complexity of self-efficacy sources and the need for tailored, ongoing professional development opportunities for science teachers. The study recommends that those components of professional development experiences be carefully selected and integrated to embed and expose instructors to relevant and sufficient self-efficacy sources that align with innovative pedagogies emphasized in curricula documents.