Social scientist perception of undergraduate geography students

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal social scientist perception of undergraduate geography students. In the research scanning model was used. The study group consisted of 65 students studying geography. Semi-constructed interview form was used as data collection tool. Findings of the study show that geography students mostly have positive perceptions regarding mental social scientist images and perceive a social scientist as physically elegant, long-haired, tall, well-kept, smiling and spectacled. Besides, findings reveal that for geography student sex of the social scientist is not important and that her/his age cannot be said numerically. For them social scientists are immortal. The participants perceive social scientists as a person doing research, joining social solidarity events, scientific meetings in comfortable and neat places where social interaction can occur. Also they perceive a social scientist as a person with library, books, maps, and natural environment objects around. They think the most important social scientists in Turkey are Sirri Erinc and Ziya Gokalp and Plato and Socrates are in the world. If they were social scientists, they would solve social and personal communication problems, environment problems, cultural resolution, domestic violence and children. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.