Analysis of Structural Relationship between Autonomy, Accountability and Role Performance Ability of Early Childhood Teachers

Objectives Early childhood teachers have autonomy and accountability in the operation of Nuri curriculum and in their job performance. The purpose of this study is to analyze the structural relationship among autonomy, accountability, and role performance perceived by early childhood teachers and to verify the mediating effect of accountability in the relationship between autonomy and role performance. Methods For this purpose, 318 early childhood teachers working in private kindergartens located in D metropolitan city were selected as research subjects. A survey was conducted by selecting autonomy as an independent variable, accountability as a mediating variable, and role performance ability as a dependent variable. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS & AMOS program for reliability verification, correlation, multiple regression analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and covariance structure analysis. Results The latent variables of autonomy, accountability, and role performance ability perceived by early childhood teachers showed a significant positive relationship, and the structural relationship between autonomy, accountability, and role performance ability was also significant. In addition, it was confirmed that accountability has a significant effect as a partial mediator in the relationship between autonomy and role performance ability. Conclusions Early childhood teachers' autonomy and accountability are core competencies that must be cultivated in performing their roles as teachers. Therefore, it is necessary to actively review ways to strengthen various online and offline job training so that they can develop their ability to smoothly perform their roles as curriculum designers, daily planners and performers, counselors and advisors, researchers, administrative tasks and managers. This is expected to be a starting point for improving the quality of early childhood education.