EXAMINING STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS ON SENSITIVITY TO CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES TEACHING PROGRAM

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how 8th grade students perceive values such as being sensitivity to cultural heritage which were involved in social sciences teaching program for 6 and 7th graders. Therefore, metaphors and pictures/cartoons that students formed and drew for each of the values and interviews conducted with students about the related value were examined. This qualitative study designed in survey model used data research techniques such as collecting data via metaphors, semi-structured interview, and document analysis under triangulation method. Considering the data supplied by Turkish Statistical Institute (TES) about Socio-Economic Status (SES), a total of 602 (317 female - 285 male) 8th graders chosen by maximum variation sampling method from 9 primary schools located in low, middle, and high socio-economical areas of central districts of Ankara participated in the study. Content analysis was conducted to analyze and interpret the data of the study. Results demonstrated that; Without regarding the difference of SES, nearly all of the participants stated that they perceived sensitivity to cultural heritage as "something protecting" and "something protecting against external factors and illuminating people". They also perceived that cultural heritage "depends on the importance that people give and their sensitivity".

Keywords

• Value
• Sensitivity to Cultural Heritage
• Pictures/Cartoon
• Metaphor
• Qualitative Study
• Social Sciences