Perceptions of Democracy of Primary School Students

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the perceptions of democracy of primary school students, identify the factors that affect these, and compare the results with those obtained from other countries. The research was carried out during the 2011-2012 school year with 1,667 students from the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades who were chosen from 26 cities in Turkey using the stratified sampling model. The Democracy Perception Scale was used as a data collection tool. According to the findings of the study, the democratic perceptions of primary school students differ according to their sex, what grade they are in, the education and income status of their parents, and where they live. The differences were found to be within the average of the scores of Turkey and the other 28 countries' scores where the study was conducted. It was concluded that the average score for the positive items of students who lived in Turkey was low whereas the perception of democracy scores for students in Turkey was high compared to the scores of students from the 28 other countries.

Metaphors of Social Studies Teacher Candidates on Democracy

“…In another research, democracy perceptions of primary school students are researched and significant differences are found regarding the concepts of equality, human rights, independence. The research supports the related study in terms of these results [12]. As a result, at the end of process which attempts to reveal perceptions of participants on democracy through metaphors, it seems that teacher candidates have developed a number of validated metaphors related to the topic.…”

“…According to results of obtained findings in research process, it is seen that social science teacher candidates have developed 28 valid metaphors related to democracy. When look at developed metaphors, it is understood that mostly freedom (19), scale (12), water (8) simulations are repeated; at least gift, utopia, dream, child, medicine, oxygen and sky (1) simulations are repeated. At the results of that developed metaphors (simulations) by candidate candidates regarding concept of democracy accumulate under certain themes; "vital-social aspect (49)", "management aspect (49)", "science-education aspect (7)" results have been obtained.…”

“…Democracy which addresses all humankind aims to help people to feel that they are part of the society they live in and discover sense of belonging within the social structure [11]. It is seen as necessary to determine how individuals perceive democracy and issues that they know as incomplete or inaccurate by democracy education, at every stage in educational environments and focus on these issues [12]. It is clear that it is necessary to focus on the concept of democracy in study in terms of seen needs in the concepts of democracy, human rights and citizenship in individual and societal terms.…”

“…Metaphors of teacher candidates Social Studies Teacher Candidates on DemocracyWhenTable 3is examined, it is seen that social science teacher candidates have developed 28 valid metaphors about the concept of democracy. It is seen that in developed metaphors by teacher candidates mostly freedom (19), scale(12), water (8) simulations are repeated, at least gifts, utopias, dreams, children, medicine, oxygen and the sky(1) are repeated. When look at the table, it is understood that the freedom metaphor was repeated 19 times.When look at table, it is understood that freedom metaphor is repeated 19 times.…”

Ortaokul 8. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Demokratik Değer Algıları: Fenomenolojik Bir Analiz

“…Kaldırım (2005) concludes that 87% of the pupils were aware of the importance of equality between men and women for democracy and that 61% believed that amending the laws in favour of women would be a democratic action. In Kuş and Çetin (2014), a survey study with secondary school pupils, the girls were found to be more sensitive than the boys about equality between men and women, and to have significantly different scores in democratic value perceptions.…”