A Discriminant Analysis of the Factors Associated With the Career Plans of String Music Educators

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore factors that may affect string teachers' career decisions. Six hundred string teachers were mailed a questionnaire designed to elicit responses about multiple factors and projected career plans in 1 year and in 5 years, and 304 teachers responded. The majority of teachers planned to remain in their positions the following year, whereas only half planned to remain in their positions in 5 years. Analyses indicated that work culture, perceptions about music's importance in the curriculum, satisfaction with student characteristics, psychological factors, and teacher socioeconomic background may affect immediate career plans. Further analyses indicated that work culture, satisfaction with student characteristics, psychological factors, and teaching experience were related to long-term career plans. In the Year 1 discriminant analysis, Stayers was the only group adequately classified. In the Year 5 analysis, Stayers were classified most accurately. Migrators and Leavers were classified slightly above the level of chance.