Intrinsic Motivation of Kindergarten Teachers in the Workplace
Chen, Tiina (2021)
Chen, Tiina
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021052711663
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021052711663
Tiivistelmä
The study aimed to find out what kindergarten teachers' thoughts about their intrinsic motivation are and offer valuable information to professionals in the early childhood education field, to enhance the well-being of kindergarten teachers in the workplace.
The severe shortage of early childhood education professionals has resulted in hundreds of unfilled vacancies throughout Finland. Focusing on the work motivation of early childhood education teachers becomes more and more important. As a future social worker, I will be a new kindergarten teacher very soon. I would like to learn and gain some inspiration from experienced teachers. What keeps kindergarten teachers enjoying working in the early childhood education field? The main question of this study is: What factors influence the intrinsic motivation of kindergarten teachers in the workplace?
This thesis was a qualitative study. The method for collecting data was survey and participant observation. Four kindergarten teachers were the participants of this study. Data were analyzed by thematic analysis and self-determination theory was used as a theoretical framework of the study.
The results of the study suggested that the factors influencing intrinsic motivation of kindergarten teachers include work autonomy, competence, challenge, colleague relationships, accomplishment, recognition, self-development, and work attitude. The results of this study might help in strengthening the intrinsic work motivation of kindergarten teachers. In addition, professionals responsible for developing the field of early childhood education might benefit from the results of this study.
The severe shortage of early childhood education professionals has resulted in hundreds of unfilled vacancies throughout Finland. Focusing on the work motivation of early childhood education teachers becomes more and more important. As a future social worker, I will be a new kindergarten teacher very soon. I would like to learn and gain some inspiration from experienced teachers. What keeps kindergarten teachers enjoying working in the early childhood education field? The main question of this study is: What factors influence the intrinsic motivation of kindergarten teachers in the workplace?
This thesis was a qualitative study. The method for collecting data was survey and participant observation. Four kindergarten teachers were the participants of this study. Data were analyzed by thematic analysis and self-determination theory was used as a theoretical framework of the study.
The results of the study suggested that the factors influencing intrinsic motivation of kindergarten teachers include work autonomy, competence, challenge, colleague relationships, accomplishment, recognition, self-development, and work attitude. The results of this study might help in strengthening the intrinsic work motivation of kindergarten teachers. In addition, professionals responsible for developing the field of early childhood education might benefit from the results of this study.