Teachers' Sources of Motivation: A Qualitative Study

This study aims to reveal the motivational sources of relatively highly motivated teachers and explore the meanings they attribute to their professional motivation. In accordance with the nature of the study, the phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research designs, was used. The collected data were analyzed by content analysis, one of the qualitative data analysis approaches. Twenty teachers working in public basic education institutions were interviewed using a semi-structured interview technique. In this study, we examined the themes of school, teaching, and achievement from the perspective of teachers. We also identified the sources of inspiration that led them to choose the teaching profession and their ideal vision of teaching. In addition, sources of motivation, demotivating factors, strategies for coping with challenges, and changes in motivation over time were examined. Finally, teachers' self-evaluations and personal development processes were taken into consideration. In light of these findings, recommendations were made for the development of strategies that support and sustain teacher motivation.