Teaching motivations and perceptions of prospective teachers in individualistic and collectivist countries

The Factors Influencing Teaching (FIT)-Choice scale is an internationally acknowledged instrument that offers the opportunity to investigate motivations for teaching and perceptions about the teaching profession. The present cross-cultural comparative study aims to examine how teaching motivations and perceptions are similar or different across individualistic and collectivist cultures. For this purpose, FIT-Choice data from prospective teachers from ten individualistic and nine collectivist countries was analysed. In highly collectivist countries, the motivation factors “prior teaching and learning experiences” and “social utility value” appeared to be more prominent than “intrinsic career value” and “perceived teaching abilities” which were the highest rated motivations in individualistic settings. Consequently, teacher recruitment campaigns in individualistic societies should focus on students’ interests and abilities, while in highly collectivist countries, the social aspect of the teaching profession should be emphasised.