Dispositional Change Readiness of Teaching Interns: An Integrative Literature Review
Jo Ann M. Petancio
Discipline: Education
Abstract:
Teaching internship marks a critical transition in the professional development of pre-service teachers, yet the dynamic and complex nature of today’s educational landscape can challenge their preparedness for this role shift. While much of the existing literature emphasizes cognitive and pedagogical readiness, little attention has been paid to the dispositional aspects that influence change readiness. This integrative literature review synthesizes theories, concepts, and empirical findings related to the dispositional change readiness of teaching interns. Anchored on the frameworks of Growth Mindset Theory, Trait Theory, and Stress and Coping Theory, the study explores how beliefs and personality traits function as pre-change antecedents that influence how pre-service teachers perceive and cope with the demands of their practicum. The review highlights the role of positive dispositions—such as growth mindset, locus of control, self-efficacy, self-esteem, positive affectivity, openness to experience, tolerance for ambiguity, risk tolerance, hope, optimism, resilience, and extraversion —in fostering adaptive, problem-focused coping strategies during this critical phase. A conceptual framework is developed to capture how these dispositions mediate readiness for the role transition, offering valuable insights for teacher education institutions aiming to support their interns holistically. By addressing the gap in literature on dispositional readiness, this study contributes a nuanced understanding of how internal attributes shape change responses and professional growth among future educators.
References:
- Abdel-Ghany, M. (2014). Readiness for change, change beliefs and resistance to change of extension personnel in the New Valley Governorate about mobile extension. Annals of Agricultural Science, 59(2), 297-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aoas.2014.11.019
- Agbaria, Q. & Mokh, A.A. (2021). Coping with stress during the coronavirus outbreak: The contribution of Big Five personality traits and social support. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00486-2
- Annisa, Zulkarnain & Novliadi, F. (2019). The influence of organizational justice and psychological capital toward readiness for change among employees of PT. Perkebunan Nusantara IV Head Office Medan. International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies, 15(1), 304-313.
- Apeanti, W.O. (2016). Contributing factors to pre-service mathematics teachers’ e-readiness for ICT integration. International Journal of Research in Education and Science, 2(1), 223-238. https://doi.org/10.21890/ijres.29797
- Armenakis, A.A., Harris, S.G. & Mossholder, K.W. (1993). Creating readiness for organizational change. Human Relations, 46(6), 681-703. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872679304600601
- Azure, J.A. (2015). Influence of the pedagogical content knowledge of college tutors to classroom practices of students. American Journal of Educational Research, 3(10), 1216-1223.
- Balajadia, D. (2015). Gauging the ICT-based teaching readiness of pre-service teachers in the light of 21st century education. PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences, Special Issue, 11-30.
- Barenbaum, N. B., & Winter, D. G. (2003). Personality. In D. K. Freedheim (Ed.), Handbook of psychology: History of psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 177-203). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/0471264385.wei0109
- Bartunek, J. M., Rousseau, D. M., Rudolph, J. W., & DePalma, J. A. (2006). On the receiving end: Sensemaking, emotion, and assessments of an organizational change initiated by others. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 42, 182-206. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886305285455
- Bas, M. & Sarigoz, O. (2018). Determining the readiness levels of pre-service teachers towards mobile learning in classroom management. Educational Research and Reviews, 13(10), 382-390. https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2018.3523
- Bastian, K. C., McCord, D. M., Marks, J. T., & Carpenter, D. (2015). Do personality traits impact beginning teacher performance and persistence? Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Bernecker K. & Job V. (2019) Mindset Theory. In: Sassenberg K., Vliek M. (Eds.) Social Psychology in Action. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13788-5_12
- Bolding, A.R. (2017). Personality and preservice teacher success. Carolina: Western Carolina University.
- Blackwell, L. S., Trzesniewski, K. H., & Dweck,C. S. (2007). Implicit theories of intelligence predict achievement across an adolescent transition: A longitudinal study and an intervention. Child Development, 78(1), 246-263. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.00995.x
- Bradley, E., Isaac, P. & King, J. (2020). Assessment of pre-service teacher dispositions. Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning, 13(1), 50-62. https://doi.org/10.14305/jn.19440413.2020.13.1.03
- Broko, H., Liston, D. & Whitcomb, J.A. (2007). Apples and fishes: The debate over dispositions in teacher education. Journal of Teacher Education, 58, 359-364. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022487107309977
- Brunello, G. & Schlotter, M. (May 2011). Non-cognitive skills and personality traits: Labour market relevance and their development in education & training systems. IZA Discussion Paper No. 5743, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1858066. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1858066
- Byrd, D. R., & McKinney, K. J. (2012). Individual, interpersonal, and institutional level factors associated with the mental health of college students. Journal of American College Health, 60(3), 185-193. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2011.584334
- Caires, S., Almeida, L. & Vieira, D. (2012). Becoming a teacher: student teachers’ experiences and perceptions about teaching practice. European Journal of Teacher Education, 35(2), 163-178. https://doi.org/10.1080/02619768.2011.643395
- Callan, V.J. (1993). Individual and organizational strategies for coping with organizational change. Work & Stress: An International Journal of Work, Health & Organisations, 7(1), 63-75. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678379308257050
- Carver, C. S., & Connor-Smith, J. (2010). Personality and coping. Annual Review of Psychology, 61, 679-704. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100352
- Chaplain, R. P. (2008). Stress and psychological distress among trainee secondary teachers in England. Educational Psychology, 28, 195-209. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410701491858
- Corlu, S., Capraro, R.M. & Corlu, A. (2015). Investigating the mental readiness of pre-service teachers for integrated teaching. International Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 7(1), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.15345/iojes.2015.01.002
- Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1990). Personality: Another “hidden factor” in stress research. Psychological Inquiry, 1, 22-24. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli0101_5
- Cummins, L. & Asempapa, B. (2013). Fostering teacher candidate dispositions in teacher education programs. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 13(3), 99-119.
- Cunningham, C. E., Woodward, C. A., Shannon, H. S., MacIntosh, J., Lendrum, B., Rosenbloom, D., & Brown, J. (2002). Readiness for organizational change: A longitudinal study of workplace, psychological and behavioral correlates. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 75, 377-392. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317902321119637
- Dee, J. & Henkin, A. (2002). Assessing dispositions toward cultural diversity among preservice teachers. Urban Education, 37, 22-39. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085902371003
- Decker, L.E. & Rimm-Kaufman, S.E. (2008). Personality characteristics and teacher beliefs among pre-service teachers. Teacher Education Quarterly, 35(2), 45-64.
- Dweck, C.S. (2008). Can personality be changed? The role of beliefs in personality and change. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17(6), 391-394. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2008.00612.x
- Dweck, C.S. (2019). The choice to make a difference. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(1), 21-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691618804180
- Erdogan, D. G., & Gunes, D. Z. (2013). The relationship between individual innovativeness and change readiness conditions of students attending faculty of education. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 106, 3033-3040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.12.349
- Fagernes, K.L.M. (2015). Measuring change readiness: How to successfully quantify readiness for change (Master’s Thesis, University of Oslo).
- Fu, Y., & Kartal, B. (2023). Developing preservice teachers’ self‑efficacy and growth mindset for teaching mathematics: Practices that make a difference. Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s
- Garland, D., Garland, K.V. & Vasquez, E. (2013). Management of classroom behaviors: Perceived readiness of education interns, Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 13(2), 133-147.
- Giallo, R. & Little, E. (2003). Classroom behavior problems: The relationship between preparedness, classroom experiences and self-efficacy in graduate and student teachers. Australian Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 3, 21-34.
- Haslan, R.H. (2017). Coping with organizational change in an Indonesian state-owned enterprise: The role of personality traits and emotional intelligence (PhD Thesis, University of Nottingham).
- Hicks, R.E. & Knies, E-M. (2015). Psychological capital, adaptability, coping with change, and employee engagement in a multinational company. Journal of International Business Disciplines, 10(2), 36-51. https://doi.org/10.21102/jbpr.2015.07.101.09
- Hiebert, J, Morris, A K, Berk, D & Jansen, A. (2007). Preparing teachers to learn from teaching. Journal of Teacher Education, 58, 47-61. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022487106295726
- Hine, G. (2015). Strengthening pre-service teachers’ mathematical content knowledge, Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 12(4). Available at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/jutlp/vol12/iss4/5. https://doi.org/10.53761/1.12.4.5
- Hine, G., & Thai, T. (2019). Pre-service mathematics teachers’ self-perceptions of readiness to teach secondary school mathematics. Mathematics Teacher Education and Development, 21(2), 64-86.
- Holt, D.T., Armenakis, A.A., Feild, H.S., & Harris, S.G. (2007). Readiness for organizational change. The systematic development of a scale. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 43(2), 232-255. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886306295295
- Holt, D.T. & Vardaman, J.M. (2013). Toward a comprehensive understanding of readiness for change: The case for an expanded conceptualization. Journal of Change Management, 13(1), 9-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/14697017.2013.768426
- Hourani, R.B. (2013). Pre-service Teachers’ Reflection: Perception, Preparedness and Challenges. Reflective Practice, 14(1), 12-30. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/14623943.2012.732947
- Jensen, B., Whiting, E. F., & Zhang, X. (2023). Becoming equitable educators: Practical measures to support teachers’ dispositional growth. Journal of Teacher Education, 74(3), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224871231183090
- Iler, C. (2015). Pre-service early childhood teachers’ beliefs on inclusive education with respect to their self-reported personality traits (Master’s Thesis, Middle East Technical University).
- Inandi, Y. & Gilic, F. (2016). Relationship of teachers’ readiness for change with their participation in decision making and school culture. Educational Research Review, 11(8), 823-833. https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2016.2730
- İnceçay, G., & Dollar, Y. K. (2012). Classroom management, self-efficacy and readiness of Turkish pre-service English teachers. International Association of Research in Foreign Language Education and Applied Linguistics, 1(3), 189-198.
- Jamieson-Proctor, R., Finger, G. & Albion, P. (2010). Auditing the TK and TPACK confidence of pre-service teachers: Are they ready for the profession? Australian Educational Computing, 25(1), 8-17.
- Judge, T.A., Thoresen, C.J., Pucik, V. & Welbourne, T.M. (1999). Managerial coping with organizational change: A dispositional perspective. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(1), 107-122. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.84.1.107
- Karimzade, A. & Besharat, M.A. (2011). An investigation of the relationship between personality dimensions and stress coping styles. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Science, 30, 797-802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.155
- Kell, H. (2019). Do teachers’ personality traits predict their performance? A comprehensive review of the empirical literature, 1990 to 2018. Educational Testing Service. https://doi.org/10.1002/ets2.12241
- Kelland, M. D. (2020, August 17). Allport’s Psychology of Personality. https://chem.libretexts.org/@go/page/12238
- Kern, Ben & Wilson, Wesley & Malinowski, Paul & Wallhead, Tristan. (2022). Pedagogical Practices Among Teachers of Different Demographics and Dispositions Toward Change: Results of a Multi-Region Survey of U.S. Physical Educators. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. 42. 1-11. 10.1123/jtpe.2021-0192. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2021-0192
- Kim, Y. J., & Kim, H. R. (2024). Mediating effects of resilience and readiness for change in the relationship between growth mindset and depression. Journal of the Korean Society for Wellness, 19(1), 195-204. https://doi.org/10.21097/ksw.2024.02.19.1.195
- Klassen, R.M. & Durksen, T.L. (2014). Weekly self-efficacy and work stress during the teaching practicum: A mixed methods study. Learning and Instruction, 33, 158-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2014.05.003
-
- Koc, M. & Bakir, N. (2010). A needs assessment survey to investigate pre-service teachers’ knowledge, experiences and perceptions about preparation to using educational technologies. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 9(1).
- Kyriacou, C., & Stephens, P. (1999). Student teachers’ concerns during the teaching practice. Evaluation and Research in Education, 13, 18-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500799908666943
- Lazarus, R.S. & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal and Coping. Springer Publishing Company, Inc.
- Lee, I.R. & Kemple, K. (2014). Preservice teachers’ personality traits and engagement in creative activities as predictors of their support for children’s creativity, Creativity Research Journal, 26(1), 82-94. https:/doi.org/ 10.1080/10400419.2014.873668
- Ledger, S., & Vidovich, L. (2018). Australian teacher education policy in action: The case of pre-service internships. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 43(7). https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2018v43n7.2
- Liza, K. & Adriyanti, E. (2020). Digital literacy scale of English pre-service teachers and their perceived readiness toward the application of digital technologies. Journal of Education and Learning, 14(1), 74-79. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v14i1.13925
- Manasia, L., Ianos, M.G., & Chicioreanu, T.D. (2019). Pre-Service teacher preparedness for fostering education for sustainable development: An empirical analysis of central dimensions of teaching readiness. Sustainability, 12, 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010166
- Merisi, P.O. & Pillay, A. (2020). Understanding what shapes English education pre-service teachers’ perceptions of preparedness to teach grammar. English in Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/04250494.2020.1740056
- Miller, J. D., & Pilkonis, P. A. (2006). Neuroticism and affective instability: The same or different? American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 839-845. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.163.5.839
- Mroczek, D. K., & Almeida, D. M. (2004). The effect of daily stress, personality, and age on daily negative affect. Journal of Personality, 72, 355-378. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-3506.2004.00265.x
- Notar, C.E., Riley, G.W. & Taylor, P.W. (2009). Dispositions: Ability and assessment. International Journal of Education, 1(1). 2-14. https://doi.org/10.5296/ije.v1i1.133
- Oberle, E., and K. A. Schonert-Reichl. (2016). Stress contagion in the classroom? The link between classroom teacher burnout and morning Cortisol in elementary school students. Social Science & Medicine, 159, 30-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.04.031
- Oreg, S., Vakola, M. & Armenakis, A. (2011). Change recipients’ reactions to organization change: A 60-year review of quantitative studies. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 47(4), 461-524. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886310396550
- Pajares, F.M. (1992). Teachers’ beliefs and educational research: Cleaning up a messy construct. Review of Educational Research, 62, 307-332. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543062003307
- Pearse, N.J. (2017). Change Management in a VUCA World. In: Elkington, R., Steege, M.V.D., Glick-Smith, J. and Breen, J.M. (Eds.) Visionary Leadership in a Turbulent World, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, 81-105. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78714-242-820171005
- Phelps, P.H. (2006). The dilemma of dispositions. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 79(4), 174-178. https://doi.org/10.3200/TCHS.79.4.174-17
- Polly, D., Frazier, J., Hopper, C., Chapman, M. & Wells, R. (2012). Examining the influence of a support seminar on pre-service teachers’ preparedness for student teaching. School-University Partnerships, 5(1), 102-107.
- Proulx J., Aldwin C. (2016) Stress and Coping Theory in Geropsychology. In: Pachana N. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geropsychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_120-1
- Rabi, N. M., Ghazali, N. H. C. M., Rohaizad, N. A. A., & Zulkefli, M. Y. (2018). Readiness of preservice teacher to teach student with special needs through inclusive education course. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 7(4), 200-210. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v7-i4/4847
- Rafferty, A. E. & Simons, R. H. (2006). An examination of the antecedents of readiness for fine-tuning and corporate transformation changes. Journal of Business and Psychology, 20(3), 325-350. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-005-9013-2
- Rafferty, A.E., Jimmieson, N.L. & Armenakis, A.A. (2013). Change readiness: A multilevel review. Journal of Management, 39(1), 110-135. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206312457417
- Ramanan, B. & Mohamad, M.B. (2020). Validating a model of change readiness among Malaysian school teachers: A structural equation modelling approach. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 19(2), 79-93. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19.2.6
- Randolph, D.L. (2008). An investigation of the relationship between coping behaviors and dispositional traits during job transitions: A longitudinal study (Doctoral Dissertation, North Illinois University).
- Rike, C.J. & Sharp, L.K. (2008) Assessing preservice teachers’ dispositions: A critical dimension of professional preparation, Childhood Education, 84(3), 150-153. https://doi.org/10.1080/00094056.2008.10522994
-
- Rosas, C. & West, M. (2011). Pre-service teachers’ perception and beliefs of readiness to teach mathematics. Current Issues in Education, 14(1). Retrieved from http://cie.asu.edu/ojs/index.php/cieatasu/article/view/
- Scott, K., Dawson, G., & Quach, J. L. (2024). How are we measuring domains that influence teacher readiness for change? A scoping review of existing instruments in non‑tertiary settings. Journal of Educational Change. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-024-09521-0
- Seggewiss, B. J., Straatmann, T., Hattrup, K., & Mueller, K. (2019). Testing interactive effects of commitment and perceived change advocacy on change readiness: Investigating the social dynamics of organizational change. Journal of Change Management, 19(2), 122-144. https://doi.org/10.1080/14697017.2018.1477816
- Smidt, W., Kammermeyer, G. & Roux, S. (2015). Relations between the Big Five personality traits of prospective early childhood pedagogues and their beliefs about the education of preschool children: Evidence from a German study. Learning and Individual Differences, 37, 96-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2014.11.002
- Snyder, C.R. (1995). Conceptualizing, measuring, and nurturing hope. Journal of Counseling & Development, 73(3), 355-360. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1995.tb01764.x
- Sockett, H. (2009). Dispositions as virtues. Journal of Teacher Education, 60, 291-303. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022487109335189
- Stewart, P. & Davis, S. (2005). Developing dispositions of preservice teachers through membership in professional organizations. Journal of Authentic Learning, 2(1), 37-46.
- Stewart, K.L. (2018). The role of growth mindset and efficacy in teachers as change agents (Doctoral Dissertation, Saint Mary’s College of California).
- Stripling, C.T., Thoron, A.C. & Estepp, C.M. (2014). Learning activities utilized and readiness for the student teaching internship. Journal of Agricultural Education, 55(4), 148-161. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2014.04148
- Tan, C.S. & Rodriguez, M.T.M. (2016). Readiness and preparation of pre-service teachers on the K to 12 program. International Journal of Research in Engineering, IT and Social Sciences, 6(12), 13-19.
- Taylor, R. L., & Wasicsko, M. M. (2000, November 4). The dispositions to teach. Retrieved from http://www.educatordispositions.org/dispositions/The%20Dispositions%20to%20Teach.pdf
- Torraco, R. J. (2005). Writing Integrative Literature Reviews: Guidelines and Examples. Human Resource Development Review, 4(3), 356-367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484305278283
- Unruh, L.E. & McCord, D.M. (2010). Personality traits and beliefs about diversity in pre-service teachers. Individual Differences Research, 8(10), 1-7.
- Vakola, M. (2014). What’s in there for me? Individual readiness to change and the perceived impact of organizational change. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 35(3), 195-209. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-05-2012-0064
- van Berkel, H. K. (2009). The relationship between personality, coping styles and stress, anxiety and depression (Master’s Thesis, University of Canterbury). https://canterbury.libguides.com/rights/theses.
- Walinga, J. (2008). Toward a theory of change readiness: The roles of appraisal, focus and perceived control. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 44(3), 315-347. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886308318967
- Wanberg, C.R. and Banas, J.T. (2000). Predictors and outcomes of openness to changes in reorganizing workplace. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85(1), 131-142. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.85.1.132
- Whittemore, R., & Knafl, K. (2005). The integrative review: updated methodology. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52(5), 546-553. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x
- Wiener, B.J. (2009). A theory of organizational readiness for change. Implementation Science, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-4-67
ISSN 2960-3722 (Online)
ISSN 2960-3714 (Print)