School Counselor Candidates' Perceptions of Self-Efficacy in Special Education

Students who graduated from the guidance and counseling program (GaCP) of the universities in Turkey serves as "school counselor" in educational institutions. School counselors working in educational institutions carry out important tasks for the students with special needs, teachers and their families in the school as well as counseling and guidance services (CaGSs) with the students whose development is normal. In this study conducted to determine the school counselor candidates' perceptions of self-efficacy regarding CaGSs in special education, self-efficacy perceptions of the school counselor candidates in special education were examined in terms of various variables. The survey model consisted of 243 participants who were volunteers to participate in the GaCP of two universities. Personal information form and School Counselors' Self-Efficacy Scale regarding Special Education (SCSSSE) were used as data collection tool. Data analysis was analyzed by SPSS 20 package program and t-test for independent groups and ANOVA were used for analysis. At the end of the study, school counselor candidates' perceptions of self-efficacy in special education were determined as medium level. Candidates' self-efficacy perceptions in special education did not differ in terms of gender, lessons learned and duration of interaction with the individual(s) with special needs, but significantly differed according to class level and the desire to work in an institution related to special education in the future.