Examination of Turkish Students' Opinions Related to Values in the Example of Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Turkey

Abstract

Reflecting effective and psychomotor skills to teaching environment are as important as cognitive skills in learning process. In this context, values are important to develop skills in affective domain. In this study, the opinions of the students who have been studying in three different countries [lraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey] were aimed to be investigated comparatively. Phenomenological Method, which is the one of qualitative data collecting methods, was used to gather the data. The study group was composed of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in 2009-2010 education term by the principles maximum variability sampling. In the study to collect the data, a researcher developed collecting tool including 9 values was used. The students hand writing compositions and pictures were taken as basic data source. After examining the writings, more concepts were seen in helpfulness, patriotism and responsibility values were seen on the other hand scientific values were seen at least level of all. In action and symbol categories, the students in Turkey and in Religion category in Iraq have raised. The levels of students in Turkey and Saudi Arabia in scientific value were lowest, peace and freedom values in Iraq were seen at lowest level. In visual expressions of students' honesty, responsibility and respect were seen as rare emphasized value. Moreover, in visual expressions of students in Iraq, respect and patriotism were highest but honesty and responsibility were stated at lowest level; in Saudi Arabia peace was the highest but respect and honesty were at lowest level; in Turkey responsibility was the lowest but peace and patriotism values were at the highest level.