Research Article

An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership

Volume: 55 Number: 1 April 30, 2026
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An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership

Abstract

This study examines how teachers’ professional learning in schools is related to various variables. Specifically, it questions the extent to which teachers’ demographic variables, school academic optimism, and distributed leadership sequentially explain their professional learning. The sample of the study consists of 586 teachers working in public middle schools in the central districts of Ankara during the 2023-2024 academic year. The data were collected using the Distributed Leadership Inventory, the School Academic Optimism Scale, and the Teacher Professional Learning Scale. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression methods. Significant correlations were found among the variables. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that teachers' educational status and gender did not have a significant effect on predicting their professional learning; however, years of experience were found to have a significant effect. Results revealed that teachers' demographic characteristics did not have a significant effect on teacher professional learning. Nevertheless, when school academic optimism and distributed leadership variables were added to the demographic variables, they were found to predict teachers' professional learning in a sequential manner. These results might contribute to the body of research on teachers’ professional learning and provide implications for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Education Management, Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 30, 2026

Submission Date

January 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 55 Number: 1

APA
Dinç, B., Hacımustafaoğlu, D., Ersan Albayrak, E., & Özdemir, M. (2026). An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 55(1), 42-74. https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.1619386
AMA
1.Dinç B, Hacımustafaoğlu D, Ersan Albayrak E, Özdemir M. An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;55(1):42-74. doi:10.14812/cuefd.1619386
Chicago
Dinç, Berrenur, Demet Hacımustafaoğlu, Elanur Ersan Albayrak, and Murat Özdemir. 2026. “An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 55 (1): 42-74. https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.1619386.
EndNote
Dinç B, Hacımustafaoğlu D, Ersan Albayrak E, Özdemir M (April 1, 2026) An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 55 1 42–74.
IEEE
[1]B. Dinç, D. Hacımustafaoğlu, E. Ersan Albayrak, and M. Özdemir, “An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership”, Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 42–74, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.14812/cuefd.1619386.
ISNAD
Dinç, Berrenur - Hacımustafaoğlu, Demet - Ersan Albayrak, Elanur - Özdemir, Murat. “An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 55/1 (April 1, 2026): 42-74. https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.1619386.
JAMA
1.Dinç B, Hacımustafaoğlu D, Ersan Albayrak E, Özdemir M. An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;55:42–74.
MLA
Dinç, Berrenur, et al. “An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership”. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 55, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 42-74, doi:10.14812/cuefd.1619386.
Vancouver
1.Berrenur Dinç, Demet Hacımustafaoğlu, Elanur Ersan Albayrak, Murat Özdemir. An Examination of the Predictors of Teachers’ Professional Learning: The Role of Demographic Variables, Academic Optimism and Distributed Leadership. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026 Apr. 1;55(1):42-74. doi:10.14812/cuefd.1619386

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