Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Job Motivation in School Teachers: The Mediating Role of Teaching Efficacy

The present study explored the relational dynamics of pedagogical content knowledge, teaching efficacy, and job motivation in school teachers. Directed by the published literature, it was postulated that a) there would be a positive relationship among teaching efficacy, pedagogical content knowledge and job motivation, b) teaching efficacy and pedagogical content knowledge would predict job motivation and, c) teaching efficacy would mediate between pedagogical content knowledge and job motivation. After observing all stipulated ethical considerations, a purposive sample of 220 school teachers (n = 117 men, n = 103 women) with an age range of 20-50 years (M=33.54, SD=4.54) was recruited for this cross-sectional correlational research. Tools used were demographic information sheet, teacher sense of efficacy scale (short form), STEM pedagogical content knowledge scale and motivation at work scale. Findings showed that there was a significant negative relationship between teaching efficacy and pedagogical content knowledge, and between job motivation and pedagogical content knowledge in teachers. Moreover, pedagogical content knowledge was a significant predictor of job motivation and teaching efficacy mediated the relationship between pedagogical content knowledge and job motivation. Other than facilitating occupational and educational psychologists in their work with teachers, current findings can also be incorporated into policymaking of the education sector.