The purpose of this research is to determine the critical thinking levels of geography teacher candidates. The research was descriptive and conducted in a relational survey model. The population of this study consists of students of the geography department of Karadeniz Technical University, Atatürk University and Marmara University education faculties located in Turkey. The sample group constitutes 246 teacher candidates randomly selected from this universe. Californian Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) consisting of 6 dimensions and 51 items which is a Likert type measurement with 6 points was used for data collection. The scale consists of analyticity, open-mindedness, inquisitiveness, self-confidence, truth-seeking and systematicity. Study variables such as gender, teaching experience, grade level and the type of high school graduated from were analyzed using SPSS 16 software using ANOVA and t tests. The data obtained in the study were collected during the fall semester of the academic year 2014-2015. The significance of the data was tested on the basis of .05 level. Considering the subscale averages of the scale, it is seen that geography teacher candidates' analyticity is 4.50, open-mindness 3.25, inquisitiveness 4.42, self-confidence 4.06, truth-seeking 3.65, and systematicity 3.52. According to the result of the research; it is concluded that geography teacher candidates have a low level of critical thinking tendencies.

Sosyal Bilgiler öğretmenlerinin coğrafya algılarını belirlemek için yapılan bu çalışma nitel araştırma yaklaşımının olgubilim deseni çerçevesinde yürütülmüştür. Rize ilinde görev yapmakta olan 56 sosyal bilgiler öğretmeninin coğrafya kavramına ilişkin algısını belirlemek için bir bilgi formu geliştirilmiştir.

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The purpose in this study is to determine cognitive understandings of student teachers about the use of energy produced by these plants and hydro-electric plants, which have recently engaged in the agenda of the media in Turkey. The descriptive (scanning) method which based on quantitative research paradigm intented for the case study in study is used. The five Likert-type instrument consist of fifteen statements (5 right, 10 scientifically incorrect) have been developed. For the measurement instrument reliability coefficient (Cronbach α) was found to be .82. Measurement tool, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Faculty of Education, Classroom Teacher, Social Studies and Science Teacher Education programs, a total of 422 student teachers, was applicated. For analysis of the data, t-test and one-way variance analysis was used and for determine the direction of the difference in variance analysis, the Scheffe test was used. As a result, it was found significantly correlation between teacher candidates' the sources to obtain information about hydroelectric plants and the cognitive understandings. According to the gender and their fields of the teacher candidates, cognitive understandings about hydroelectric plants showed significant difference. In addition, cognitive understandings of student teachers is considered as teachers of future about hydroelectric plants does not have a sufficient level.