Diyalektolog - International Journal of Social Sciences, Year 2025 Issue 35

CULTURAL ADAPTING OF SYRIAN REFUGEES

Feyyaz KARACAEmine ÖRKİ — 2026-07-16

Syrian refugees, who are considered guests, have generally continued to live in our country outside of camps in cities and neighborhoods intertwined with the public since 2011. Due to the extension of the civil war in Syria, whether these Syrian refugees, who want to stay permanently, experience social harmony or not with the local people they interact has emerged as an important problem. The aim of this study is to determine the perspectives and problems of Syrian refugees living in cities regarding social acceptance and harmony in a cultural sense and to develop some solutions to these issues. Qualitative research method and case study design were used to determine what kind of cultural harmony or differences there are in Syrians’ working conditions, language, religion, food, holidays, weddings and special celebrations in terms of the place they migrated to. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data and 14 semi-structured questions were asked to each family. Interviews were conducted with the participants in the study group, and the participants' statements obtained from the interviews were included in the study and interpreted through direct quotations. According to the research results, Syrian refugees do not have much difficulty in adapting in legal matters, but they face many problems related to economic and socio-cultural adaptation because they have moved from being temporary guests to permanent status.

ANALYSIS OF THESES ON POST-DIVORCE ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS IN TÜRKİYE

Nuray AŞANTUĞRUL — 2026-07-16

Divorce brings with it many changes in an individual's life. In this context, divorce is a crisis of sorts that requires readjustment. Adjusting to the changes brought on by divorce and the new roles that emerge after it can be as challenging for individuals as the divorce itself. Divorce is a multidimensional phenomenon that affects not only spouses but also children and the family system. Post-divorce adjustment programs, which aim to help individuals or children adapt to their new life after divorce, are gaining increasing importance in both international and domestic literature. The aim of this study is to present a holistic view of the current situation by examining postgraduate theses on post-divorce adjustment programs in Turkey. In this study, which was planned as a qualitative research design, document analysis method was used. Theses on post-divorce adjustment programs included in the scope of the study were identified from the Higher Education Council National Thesis Center through the specified keywords. In the analysis of theses, content analysis technique was used. Within the scope of the study, the distribution of theses in terms of type, year, advisor title, institute, working group, number of sessions, research design, analysis method and variables discussed were examined. As a result of the research, it was seen that the theses were carried out between the years 2006-2022. In addition, it was found that all of the theses were doctoral type, carried out by advisors with the title of professor and using non-parametric data analysis methods. Research findings reveal that there are a limited number of theses on post-divorce adjustment in Türkiye. In this context, the current research is important in terms of conducting further studies on divorce, which has negative effects on individuals, and developing functional applications to solve this problem.

INVESTIGATION OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS' COGNITIVE STRUCTURES TOWARDS THE CONCEPT OF BIOLOGICAL DISASTERS THROUGH THE USE OF A WORD ASSOCIATION TEST

Nurcan UZELEbru ÇOKUĞURLU ,Ümit YEL ,Turhan ÇETİN — 2026-07-16

This study aims to determine the cognitive structures of prospective teachers in the fields of classroom, social studies, science, biology, and geography regarding the concept of biological disasters. In the study in which the survey model was used, word association test was used as a data collection tool. The study group of the research consists of 251 prospective teachers. As a result of the research, when the words produced about the related key concept of biological disasters were analyzed on the basis of the main discipline, it was understood that a total of 89 different words were produced by prospective classroom 97, social sciences 79, science 75, biology 48 and geography teachers. It was determined that the most repeated word among the words evaluated was ‘epidemic’ for classroom, science and geography prospective teachers, ‘epidemic disease (f=30)’ for social studies prospective teachers, and ‘flood (f=19)’ for biology prospective teachers. In addition, no common word produced by all main disciplines was found at any breakpoint in the concept networks. For this reason, adopting a holistic environmental education approach in teacher training is considered highly beneficial.

OPINIONS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHERS ON THE IDEAL LESSON DURATION IN TEACHING MATHEMATICS

EYÜP İZCİZeynep BOZTAŞ ,Serkan DENİZ — 2026-07-16

The aim of this study is to determine the opinions of secondary school mathematics teachers about the ideal course duration in mathematics teaching. The model of the research prepared with qualitative method is a case study. The study group consists of 13 mathematics teachers determined by criterion sampling method and working in Malatya province in the 2023-2024 academic year. The data collected with a semi-structured interview form were analysed by content analysis. As a result of the research, it was determined that 5 lesson hours per week was insufficient and approximately half of the teachers considered 30 minutes of lesson time sufficient. Most of the teachers stated that the reduction of the class time increased the motivation of the students; however, they emphasised that this practice could be a disadvantage in central exams. Most of the participants stated that arrangements should be made in recess periods. It is recommended to adopt a common practice across the country regarding lesson and break times.

EXAMINATION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ WATER LITERACY LEVELS ACCORDING TO VARIOUS VARIABLES

Samet KARAKUŞYavuz AKBAŞ — 2026-07-16

Water is the most basic source of life. Global climate change and people's daily habits threaten usable water resources day by day. Therefore, it is necessary to protect water well and consume it consciously. In this direction, the concept of water literacy has come to the fore. The study aims to examine middle school students' water literacy levels across various variables. The study used the survey method, a quantitative research method. The study was conducted with 382 middle school students from different districts of Trabzon province during the second semester of the 2024-2025 academic year. The data were obtained with the water literacy scale developed by Karakuş and Akbaş (2024) for middle school students. The data obtained were analysed with the JAMOVI program. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistical methods, independent-samples t-test, one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), Pearson's Moment Correlation Coefficient, and Tukey's post hoc test were utilised. As a result of the study, it was determined that the water literacy levels (water knowledge, water attitude, and water behaviour) of middle school students were at a good level. It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between students' water literacy levels and their parents' education, family average monthly income, following water-related publications, and class levels. No statistically significant differences were found among students' gender, participation in environmental activities, receipt of water-related education, and water literacy scores. Based on the results, it is recommended that new studies be conducted with different samples using the water literacy scale for middle school students.

A VANISHING TREASURE: THE KIZILHİSAR GLASS

Faruk EKENEmine KIVRAK ,Azize YILMAZ ,Zühre Nur SAĞLIK — 2026-07-16

After producing their first tools from stone and wood, humans developed the method of shaping and firing clay using fire, which led to the emergence of pottery. With its roots extending back thousands of years, pottery has seen its scope of use narrow with the rise of industrialisation, compelling many masters to leave the profession. The main objective of this study is to contribute to the transmission of cultural heritage to future generations by interviewing the last traditional potters in the Denizli region and documenting their production methods. The study employed a multi-patterned research method. In addition to interviewing the masters, the production of the 'Kızılhisar Glass’ was examined at every stage through fieldwork. According to the findings, this profession is at risk of disappearing, as masters are unable to find apprentices and have lost a significant proportion of their market share to machine production. The study also found that the materials used and production methods give products made in this region distinct characteristics compared to those from other regions. Based on these findings, the Kızılhisar Glass has been granted a geographical indication.

CULTURAL ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE 5TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES TEXTBOOK: A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Ayhan UÇAREbru GENÇTÜRK GÜVEN — 2026-07-16

This study examines the cultural representations in the 5th grade Social Studies textbook, which was prepared in alignment with the Türkiye Century Education Model and introduced in the 2024–2025 academic year. The analysis is based on a framework derived from the most widely used cultural categories in international literature (Tomalin & Stempleski, 1993; Moran, 2001; Yuen, 2011; Razi, 2012). A qualitative research design was adopted, utilizing the document analysis method. The cultural elements in the textbook were subjected to content analysis across four components: texts, activities, visuals, and assessments. As a result , a total of 669 cultural elements were identified. The majority of these elements found in the text sections of the textbook. In conclusion, the textbook includes a substantial representation of cultural elements, with a particular emphasis on the categories of “products,” “lifestyle,” and “perspectives.”