Abstract:

The aim of the study is to examine the relationships between preschool teachers' beliefs towards developmentally appropriate practices, attitudes towards multiculturalism and perceptions of self-efficacy. Correlational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. The sample of the study consists of 150 preschool teachers reached by using the convenience sampling method. Research data were collected with the Developmentally Appropriate Practice Teacher Beliefs Scale, The Multicultural Teacher Attitude Scale and Self-Efficacy Scale. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistical techniques, Mann-Whitney U Test and Spearman correlation analysis were used. As a result of the research, it was determined that teachers' beliefs towards developmentally appropriate practices are high level, their perceptions of self-efficacy are middle level, and their attitudes towards multiculturalism are positive. It was deduced that teachers' different levels of beliefs towards developmentally appropriate practices caused a significant difference on their attitudes towards multiculturalism, but did not cause a significant difference on their perceptions of self-efficacy. In addition, it was determined that when teachers' beliefs towards developmentally appropriate practices increased, their positive attitudes towards multiculturalism and their self-efficacy increased. The results of the research were discussed on the basis of the related literature. As a result of the discussion, some suggestions were presented in order to support preschool teachers' developmentally appropriate practices, attitudes towards multiculturalism and self-efficacy perceptions.

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