Examination of the Academic Dissertations Related to the Problems Encountered in Social Studies Teaching: Meta-Synthesis Study

Abstract

he aim of the research is to examine the postgraduate theses about the problems encountered in social studies teaching with meta-synthesis study. The study was prepared with meta-synthesis design including thematic content analysis based on qualitative research methodology. The data of the master's and doctorate theses were collected from the National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education (YOK) via internet connection. The data were searched under the title of problems encountered in social studies teaching. The researches in this study were 28 master and 2 doctoral theses conducted between 2004-2018. The studies included in the research were determined primarily by reviewing the literature. Each of the identified studies was coded as 'A' by shortening 'Research'. A1, A2, A3,…, A30 codes were given and a detailed grading process was passed. All theses examined were primarily coded. Then all the coded data were tabulated for the themes created. The coded theses were tabulated according to the objectives, years, university, thesis type, sample region, model, method, results and suggestions. The frequencies of the theses that were coded into tables were found. The frequencies were interpreted in accordance with the meta-synthesis study. The prominent problems in research are; problems of teaching of the course, problems of program and textbook, problems in teaching of geography subjects and problems encountered in teaching of history subjects. In the research theses, some suggestions are made such as in-service training, tools, equipment and resource support, arrangement of program and textbooks, appropriate course teaching and increasing the hours of the course.