An Examination of Locus of Control, Epistemological Beliefs and Metacognitive Awareness in Preservice Early Childhood Teachers

This study aims to explore the locus of control, epistemological beliefs and metacognitive awareness levels of preservice early childhood education teachers and to determine the interrelations among these variables. 206 teacher candidates have been asked to fill out Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, Central Epistemological Beliefs Scale and Metacognitive Awareness Scale. The statistical analyses revealed that there were meaningful correlations between Locus of Control and the first two factors of Central Epistemological Beliefs Scale, namely, Belief in Supernatural Powers, and Belief in Superstitious Rituals; and between Metacognitive Awareness and the last two factors of Central Epistemological Beliefs Scale, namely, Belief in Science as a Source of Knowledge, and Belief in a Rational Society. Another important finding was that Belief in Supernatural Powers and Belief in Superstitious Rituals were important predictors of Locus of Control.