Zeitschrift für die Welt der Türken (Aug 2014)
HOW CAN WE GET THE INFORMATION ABOUT DEMOCRACY? THE EXAMPLE OF SOCIAL STUDIES PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS
Abstract
In this research, the information about democracy, which social studies prospective teachers have, and interpretation of the information sources are aimed. The research was planned as a survey research methodology and the participants were determined with criterion sampling method. The data were collected through developed open-ended questions from 192 social studies prospective teachers who continued 1. and 4. grades. According to obtained findings, the 1th and 4th grades participants’ answers and their examples about democracy resemble to each other. It was concluded that, participants defined “democracy” with the concepts of “respect for human rights and freedoms”, “self government of the public”, and “equality”. It was determined that; portion of approximately 90% of the participants did not read any scientific publication or book about democracy. The most obvious difference between two groups has emerged through almost half of the 4th grade prospective teachers who indicated there was no democracy in the school. 4th grade students could not explain enough about democracy, although they had taken lesson about democracy directly or indirectly, and this is evaluated as the courses which are taken in college is not able to serve to the purpose.
