The Effect of Distance Education on Self-efficacy towards Online Technologies and Motivation for Online Learning

This research aimed to investigate the effect of distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological counselor candidates’ self-efficacy perceptions towards online technologies and their motivation for online learning. Single group pretest-posttest model, a quantitative method, was used in the research. The study participants were third-year students at the Faculty of Education, Psychological Counseling and Guidance Department of a state university in the fall semester of 2020-2021. Demographic Information Form, Online Technologies Self-Efficacy Scale and Online Motivation Scale were used as data collection tools. As a result of the research, it was observed that the psychological counselor candidates’ self-efficacy for online technologies and online learning motivation scores were above the average. It was concluded that the distance education used during the COVID-19 pandemic caused a statistically significant difference in psychological counselor candidates’ self-efficacy towards online technologies, but did not cause a difference in their online learning motivation. There was no significant difference in self-efficacy according to gender and place of residence. However, while there was no significant difference in motivation according to gender, a significant difference was observed in regards to the place of residence in favor of citycenter. It is important to present psychological counselor candidates’ perceptions and motivations in regards to distance education, which is an ongoing process at the moment, for their professional development.