This study explored the motives to participate in professional development activities
perceived by elementary school teachers using concept mapping method. Elementary school
teachers were interviewed and key sentences from those interviews were extracted, sorted,
and rated by themselves. Concept mapping was developed by this steps and subsequent
Multidimentional Scaling and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis method.
As a result, there were two dimensions and five groups perceived by elementary school
teachers. Two dimensions were the locus of motives and the object of goals. Five groups
were student guidance and intrinsic motivation, collegiality among teachers, school goals and
administration supports, monetary rewards and career stage, and teacher evaluation. In
addition, teachers agreed with each group differently and each group has different meaning,
considering the location at the concept map. This study identified what is conceptual
structures of teachers' perceived motives and how to facilitate teacher professional
development activities.