Uppeldi og menntun - 01.01.2010, Qupperneq 129

Uppeldi og menntUn/icelandic JoUrnal of edUcation 19(1–2)/2010 129
gUðmUndUr ingi gUðmUndSSon og gUðBJörg linda rafnSdÓttir
seemed to endow teaching with significance. Respondents attached importance to
seeing that their efforts in teaching benefitted students and led to greater success at
school. A certain conflict between the limits of job autonomy and collaboration with
other teachers was apparent in respondents’ comments. Autonomy and independence
in decision-making were greatly valued by most respondents. There was generally
little collaboration and consultation with other teachers. Most respondents appreciated
receiving recognition for their work but many felt that supervisors and colleagues
were sparing with praise. Head teachers did not keep track of teachers’ efforts and
teachers commented that recognition from head teachers for their work was often
based on the comments of other people, for example, students or parents.
The results are largely in line with other research presented in this article. However,
it is suggested that student-teacher interaction be classed with intrinsic motivational
factors, contrary to what Herzberg and others maintain. The study presents a new
perspective on factors affecting job satisfaction among Icelandic secondary school
teachers. It also contributes to developing theories of intrinsic and extrinsic factors
concerning job satisfaction.
aBout tHE autHors
Guðmundur Ingi Guðmundsson (gig4@hi.is) is a teacher in Reykjavík. He graduated from
the University of Iceland with a Master’s Degree in Sociology in 2009. Guðmundur
has been engaged in pedagogical studies and issues in education for the past several
years.
Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir (glr@hi.is) is Professor in Sociology at the University of
Iceland. She has PhD from the University of Lund, Sweden. She has been senior
researcher at the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health in Iceland and
head for the Research Centre for Occupational Health and Working Life. Her main
speciality in research is sociology of work.