An Exploratory Study: The Role of Social Networks and Self-Efficacy in Retention of Noyce Teachers

• In Event: Noyce Research Results: Addressing Preparation, Effectiveness, and Retention of STEM Teachers in High-Need School Districts

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of our Noyce Track IV research, was to conduct an exploratory study investigating the role of Noyce early career teachers’ personal support networks and self-efficacy on teacher retention in high-need schools. The study focused on Track 1 and 2 Noyce early career teachers and explored: (1) whether and how Noyce teachers’ personal support networks and self-efficacy impact teacher retention in high-need schools; and (2) whether and how individual Noyce program characteristics impact teachers’ personal networks and retention.

Theoretical Framework/Rationale: Numerous studies (Vangrieken et al., 2015) show that teacher effectiveness and retention are affected by the strength and nature of teachers’ collaborative networks, both inside and outside of school settings. Furthermore, research has shown that teacher self-efficacy is a critical factor that impacts teacher effectiveness and retention (Bray-Clark & Bates, 2003). Indeed, according to social cognitive theory, because current beliefs are thought to powerfully predict future behavior, teacher self-efficacy may be a better predictor of retention than teachers’ current levels of effectiveness (Bandura, 1986).

Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed method design was used to investigate early career teachers’ personal networks, self-efficacy, and retention. A sequential approach is used when the researcher is interested in following up the quantitative results with qualitative data. The quantitative component of this study was guided by social network analysis (SNA). SNA is the process of investigating social structures through the use of network and graph theories. A personal network approach examines an individual’s networks from their perspective was used to examine teachers’ support networks.

Data: In addition, social network analysis survey items, a previously validated self-efficacy instrument, and open-ended survey items were used to measure Noyce teachers’ self-efficacy. Following the survey, we conducted interviews with nine purposively selected Noyce teachers to follow-up on survey responses and gather additional reflections on teachers’ experiences related to self-efficacy, retention, and their Noyce programs.

Results: Our results showed that teachers who have more connected networks are more likely to remain in high-need schools. Additionally, program characteristics such as having a mentor, student teaching experience in a high-need school, or having a Noyce program faculty observe their teaching resulted in the strongest positive correlations, suggesting that when a teacher was exposed to these program characteristics, there was an overall increase in the likelihood that they would remain in a high-need school. Although self-efficacy was not significantly correlated with retention, we did find correlations between teaching self-efficacy and several Noyce program characteristics including opportunities to student-teach in a high need school, participating in a PLC, receiving help finding a job, and having teaching observed by Noyce faculty.

Scholarly Significance: The relationship among teacher support networks, self-efficacy, Noyce programs’ characteristics, and retention had never been explored. The study carries implications for educational research spanning multiple areas including social network analysis, teacher education, and self-efficacy. Findings regarding network composition and the use of effective size as a metric when analyzing teachers’ personal support networks, may inform future work employing social network methods to examine how teacher networks are established and develop.

Authors

• Meltem Alemdar, Georgia Institute of Technology

• Jessica Gale, Georgia Institute of Technology

• Christopher Cappelli, Georgia Institute of Technology

• Katherine Boice, Georgia Institute of Technology