An Examination of Humor-Related Postgraduate Theses Completed Between 2000-2022

Abstract

It is important to increase and diversify the studies on humor in the field of education in terms of quality and quantity. This study was carried out based on the view that a systematic presentation of the characteristics of the postgraduate theses on humor in the field of education, the methods and data collection tools used, the study groups, and the results would be useful for new research and educators. This study, which aims to examine the postgraduate theses on humor completed between 2000-2022 in the field of education in Turkey, is a descriptive study designed using document analysis. The study group of the research consists of 97 postgraduate theses on humor in the field of education completed between 2000-2022 in the National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education. In the study, the "humor studies evaluation form" created by the researcher was used as a data collection tool. The data of the study were analyzed by descriptive content analysis method. As a result of the research, it was determined that most of the postgraduate theses on humor in the field of education were master's theses, the most theses were completed in 2022, the most relational survey method was used, and the most studies were conducted with teachers and university students. It was determined that the most used quantitative data collection tool in the studies was the Humor Styles Scale and that qualitative data collection tools that can be used in humor studies are limited. When the results of the theses are examined, it is seen that school administrators, teachers, children and university students have positive humor styles, and the use of humor in education increases students' academic achievement, positive attitudes and motivation towards the lessons.