Research Article

Investigation of the Relationship between Early Childhood Teachers' Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction

Volume: 17 Number: 33 May 18, 2026
TR EN

Investigation of the Relationship between Early Childhood Teachers' Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between early childhood teachers' knowledge of children and their job satisfaction levels. A relational survey model was employed, and the study sample consisted of teachers working in public preschools and kindergartens in Diyarbakır province, selected through a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using the General Information Form, the Student Recognition Competence Scale, and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale. The normality of the data was tested with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test; based on these results, the independent samples t-test was used for normally distributed dimensions and the Mann–Whitney U test was used for non-normally distributed dimensions, while the Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient was used to examine the associations between the two scales. The findings revealed a statistically significant and positive relationship between teachers' knowledge of children and their job satisfaction levels. A strong positive correlation emerged between intrinsic job satisfaction and the recognising individual differences sub-dimension. Moderate positive correlations were identified with the managing-learning and recognising-developmental characteristics sub-dimensions, and a weak positive correlation was observed with the guidance sub-dimension. Regarding extrinsic job satisfaction, moderate positive correlations were found with all four sub-dimensions. These results suggest that strengthening teachers' child-recognition competencies supported by appropriate resources and teacher–child collaboration can effectively support their job satisfaction

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Mardin Artuklu University

Ethical Statement

Ethical permission for this study was obtained from the Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee of Mardin Artuklu University (decision number 4, session number 2021/9).

Thanks

We would like to thank all participants who supported the realization of this study.

References

  1. Abay, A. R. (2004). Eğitim toplum ilişkisi ve Türkiye uygulamaları. Türk Dünyası Araştırmaları Dergisi, 149, 129–146.
  2. Acar, F. M. (2016). Okul öncesi öğretmenlerinin tükenmişlik ve iş doyumu düzeylerinin bazı değişkenler açısından incelenmesi (Unpublished master's thesis). Çağ University, Türkiye.
  3. Akkaya, R. (2015). Öğretmenlerin kontrol odağı ile iş doyumu arasındaki ilişki (Unpublished master's thesis). Adnan Menderes University, Türkiye.
  4. Akkurt, Z. (2008). Okul öncesi öğretmenlerinin iş doyumu ve tükenmişlik düzeylerinin incelenmesi (Unpublished master's thesis). Selçuk University, Türkiye.
  5. Balcı, A. (2005). Açıklamalı eğitim yönetimi terimleri sözlüğü, Tek Ağaç Publishing.
  6. Baycan, A. (1985). Analysis of several aspects of job satisfaction between different occupational groups (Published master's thesis). Boğaziçi University Social Sciences Institute, Türkiye.
  7. Brosterman, N. (1997). Inventing kindergarten. Harry N. Abrams.
  8. Büyüköztürk, Ş. (2009). Sosyal bilimler için veri analizi el kitabı (10. Ed.). Pegem Akademi.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Education Management, Early Childhood Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

May 18, 2026

Submission Date

August 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

May 11, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: 33

APA
Bozöyük Aksu, E., & Akın, M. A. (2026). Investigation of the Relationship between Early Childhood Teachers’ Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction. Eğitim Ve İnsani Bilimler Dergisi: Teori Ve Uygulama, 17(33), 303-322. https://doi.org/10.58689/eibd.1761495
AMA
1.Bozöyük Aksu E, Akın MA. Investigation of the Relationship between Early Childhood Teachers’ Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction. Eğitim Ve İnsani Bilimler Dergisi: Teori Ve Uygulama. 2026;17(33):303-322. doi:10.58689/eibd.1761495
Chicago
Bozöyük Aksu, Emine, and Mehmet Ali Akın. 2026. “Investigation of the Relationship Between Early Childhood Teachers’ Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction”. Eğitim Ve İnsani Bilimler Dergisi: Teori Ve Uygulama 17 (33): 303-22. https://doi.org/10.58689/eibd.1761495.
EndNote
Bozöyük Aksu E, Akın MA (May 1, 2026) Investigation of the Relationship between Early Childhood Teachers’ Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction. Eğitim Ve İnsani Bilimler Dergisi: Teori Ve Uygulama 17 33 303–322.
IEEE
[1]E. Bozöyük Aksu and M. A. Akın, “Investigation of the Relationship between Early Childhood Teachers’ Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction”, Eğitim Ve İnsani Bilimler Dergisi: Teori Ve Uygulama, vol. 17, no. 33, pp. 303–322, May 2026, doi: 10.58689/eibd.1761495.
ISNAD
Bozöyük Aksu, Emine - Akın, Mehmet Ali. “Investigation of the Relationship Between Early Childhood Teachers’ Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction”. Eğitim Ve İnsani Bilimler Dergisi: Teori Ve Uygulama 17/33 (May 1, 2026): 303-322. https://doi.org/10.58689/eibd.1761495.
JAMA
1.Bozöyük Aksu E, Akın MA. Investigation of the Relationship between Early Childhood Teachers’ Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction. Eğitim Ve İnsani Bilimler Dergisi: Teori Ve Uygulama. 2026;17:303–322.
MLA
Bozöyük Aksu, Emine, and Mehmet Ali Akın. “Investigation of the Relationship Between Early Childhood Teachers’ Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction”. Eğitim Ve İnsani Bilimler Dergisi: Teori Ve Uygulama, vol. 17, no. 33, May 2026, pp. 303-22, doi:10.58689/eibd.1761495.
Vancouver
1.Emine Bozöyük Aksu, Mehmet Ali Akın. Investigation of the Relationship between Early Childhood Teachers’ Knowledge of Children and Their Job Satisfaction. Eğitim Ve İnsani Bilimler Dergisi: Teori Ve Uygulama. 2026 May 1;17(33):303-22. doi:10.58689/eibd.1761495