Science education trends in Turkey: A content analysis from 2005 to 2014 [Türkiye’de fen bilimleri eğitimi yönelimleri: 2005 ile 2014 yılları arası bir ıçerik analizi]

Abstract

The present study intends to review the fundamental contributions and developments made in science education research during the last decade. A series of content analyses of the articles published by Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, Hacettepe University Journal of Education, Elementary Education Online, and Education and Science Journal from 2005 to 2014 were conducted. A total of 363 research papers were analyzed in terms of features of authors, research types, topics and methods. It was found that elementary science education played a valuable role on the published work. This result presumably implies that elementary science education research became a comprehensive area by the academic community. Another finding is that, most of the published articles were categorized as quantitative in nature, conducting experimental or survey studies. The procedures of qualitative studies were rarely presented in the journals. The research topics of constructivism, conceptual change, affective factors and methods of teaching were received relatively more attention among science educators. © 2016, Ankara University. All rights reserved.