The Impressions (Images) of Teacher Candidates about Basic School Inspectors
The aim of this study is to determine the impressions of teacher candidates on basic school inspectors. In this study descriptive method was used. The population of this study comprises students who study in the faculty of Education in Usak University. The sample includes randomly selected 106 teacher candidates. The data were collected through a questionnaire that has two sections. The first section covers demographic questions and the second section has three open ended questions. The collected data were analysed using descriptive method. The findings of the study showed that the perceptions of teacher candidates on basic school inspectors could be grouped in 9 themes as follows: Impact (threatening, unpleasant, alarmant, worrisome, scary, thrilling, burdensome); Character/Personality (rude, sullen, serious, self disciplined, know all, nitpicking, authoritative, normative, endearing, formal, easygoing); Inspector; Inquisitorial; Authoritative; Physical appearance (short, mustached, with bag, with glasses, sweet), Respected (with status, important person etc); Assessor; Guide. Almost half of the participants said that they did not want to become inspectors in their career life. The ideas of teacher candidates related to the roles and tasks of inspectors were concentrated on the inspection task. Introduction Human beings as social beings are engaged in interpersonal interactions with one another in both social environment and work life. As a result they get impression about the person with whom they are having interaction. These impressions can be distinctive for improving social relationships. Recently organizations and individuals increasingly operate considering the "First impression lasts to the end" approach. Bearing this in mind "positive first impression" goes on to have an effect as the interaction also continues. Similarly negative impression may form barrier to interpersonal communications (Dogan, 2005:52). The concept of impression (image) in literature is defined in various ways: Impression can be defined as an impact that leaves on individuals through senses. In other words impression is a decision made after the evaluations of information and data obtained through various sources. Individuals confront numerous messages in the process of getting information and evaluate all the impressions constructed in their minds. Impression does not occur only one time and but occurs continously as a result of experiences (Guruz, 2003). Impression is the character of individuals and organizations. The impressions that individuals create affect and shape the behaviours of others. Individuals give clues to others to familiarize with themselves in the process of interactions. Individuals shape their behaviours with the help of these clues. Personnel who are content with their administrators and work environment affect each other and their surroundings and form a positive organizational culture. Attitudes and behaviours, social interactions, personal characteristics, environmental factors, habits, educational abilities and communication skills play an important role in this process (Peltekoglu, 1998: 278). For the establishment of organizational image, organizational picture, behaviours and attitudes, communication skills and abilities of the personnel portray the uniqueness and power of the organizations in competetive environment. Organizational image which is established by organizational identity involve factors such as opinions about the organization, prestige of the organization and comparison with its competetors. Organizational image also comprises emotional attributions developed for the organization as well as reasonable associations that communicate either positive or negative messages about the organization (Peltekoglu, 1998:278). One of the most important reasons why individuals cannot improve their career or come to the position they desire is because individuals are not aware of the impression they leave on others. …