DINAMIKA ILMU - Vol. 21 No. 2 - Examining the Need for Social Approval as a Predictor of Attitudes Towards the Teaching Profession

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk

The study examines how the need for social approval predicts attitudes toward the teaching profession, a factor tied to teachers’ behavior in educational settings. Social approval needs include sensitivity to others’ judgments, social retreat, and making a positive impression. Using a correlational survey model, data from 478 pre-service teachers were analyzed with t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression to identify significant predictive relations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

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Abstract

Keywords

Introduction

DINAMIKA ILMU Vol. 21 No. 2, 2021 P-ISSN: 1411-3031; E-ISSN: 2442-9651 doi: [http://doi.org/10.21093/di.v21i2.3462](http://doi.org/10.21093/di.v21i2.3462) Examining the Need for Social Approval as a Predictor of Attitudes Towards the Teaching Profession Mehtap Saraçoğlu Faculty of Education, Siirt University, Turkey [e-mail: mehtapsarac@siirt.edu](e-mail: mehtapsarac@siirt.edu.tr)[.](e-mail: mehtapsarac@siirt.edu.tr)[tr](e-mail: mehtapsarac@siirt.edu.tr) Mustafa Kahyaoğlu Faculty of Education, Siirt University, Turkey [e-mail: mustafa.kahyaoglu56@gmail.com.tr](e-mail: mustafa.kahyaoglu56@gmail.com.tr) Abstract The study aims to reveal the effect of the need for social approval on the prediction of attitudes towards the teaching profession, which has an important role in teachers’ behaviors in educational settings. In this way, the effect and importance of the need for social approval such as sensitivity to the judgments of others, social retreat, and making a positive impression on others were examined. The research model was carried out according to the correlational survey model from quantitative research methods. The population of the study has consisted of university students studying at the Faculty of Education in a university located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, and the sample has consisted of 478 pre-service teachers. The sample of the study was determined according to the convenience sampling method. The data in the study were obtained by “Attitude scale towards the teaching profession” and “Social approval needs scale”. Independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. As a result of the research, it was determined that the attitudes of pre-service teachers towards the teaching profession were “high” and social approval needs were “moderate”. In the study, it was determined that the social approval need of the pre-service teachers is a significant predictor of the attitude towards the teaching profession. On the other hand, it was determined that the variables of sensitivity to the judgments of others and leaving a positive Dinamika Ilmu, Volume 21(2), 2021 309 Mehtap Saraçoğlu & Mustafa Kahyaoğlu impression on others are significant predictors of attitudes towards the teaching profession, while the social retreat variable does not predict significantly. Keywords: attitudes, pre-service teachers, social approval needs, teaching profession A. Introduction As Aristotle said: “Man is a social being by nature”. Therefore, human beings need others to survive since the earliest days of history. Previously, this situation took place soas not to be left behind, to belong to a community, to be alone, and not to be fed to an animal, but today it occurs due to social concerns. Today, people need social approval in order not to be alone, not to be excluded, to be ignored and cared for. According to Hofmann & Di Bartolo (2010), people, as social beings, strongly need tobe loved, valued, and approved by others. In the literature, the need for social approval is sometimes defined as a need and sometimes as a source of motivation. Accordingly, social approval is described as the tendency to be loved, admired, appreciated, to seek approval from others, or to seek praise (Hebert et al., 1997) . It is stated that the need for social approval is related to gain the admiration and approval of others (Fehr & Falk, 2002), to belong to a group, and to be applauded by a circle (Marar, 2004), a person wanting approval or avoiding not getting approved (Leite & Beretvas, 2005) . In this context, the need for social approval is defined as being very careful to be accepted socially and experiencing social anxiety to be adopted as a good individual (Chiba et al., 2009) . Crowne & Marlowe (1964) stated that the individual needs to be perceived as a good person by the people around her/him and this requirement varies from person to person

FAQs

What is the study’s main purpose?

To reveal whether the need for social approval predicts attitudes toward the teaching profession and to examine the role of specific social approval components.

How was the research conducted and analyzed?

Using a correlational survey model with 478 pre-service teachers, data were analyzed via independent-sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression.

What did the results show about pre-service teachers’ attitudes and social approval needs?

Pre-service teachers’ attitudes toward the teaching profession were “high,” social approval needs were “moderate,” and social approval needs significantly predicted teaching-profession attitudes.

Which social approval variables predicted attitudes, and which did not?

Sensitivity to others’ judgments and leaving a positive impression significantly predicted attitudes, while social retreat did not significantly predict attitudes.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk