A Picture of Chemistry: A Case Study from High Schools (Hakkari Sample)

Abstract

This research aims to draw a picture of chemistry lessons based on students’ opinions in Hakkari, Turkey. The research design is a case study. An open-ended qualitative questionnaire consisting of 15 questions was used. The questionnaire was applied to 463 tenth- and eleventh-grade students studying at high schools in Hakkari. The data obtained were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods: content analysis, correlation tests, and chi-square tests. As a result, two categories were found: the factors affecting chemistry teaching and the effect of chemistry on students’ daily and future lives. According to this, students’ interest in chemistry is a factor in learning chemistry, the teaching method used by the teacher is an essential factor for chemistry, and having enough knowledge of chemistry affects achievement in other courses. A significant difference was found between female and male students choosing chemistry in their future careers, and the results were in favor of male students. On the contrary, female students thought that chemistry would be more permanent than males thought in their lives. The activities used in chemistry lessons, teachers’ attitudes in the classroom, and the use of chemistry examples in daily life are effective for learning chemistry and choosing chemistry for a future career.