A Systematic Review of Postgraduate Theses on Curriculum Evaluation

Abstract

Curriculum evaluation is a process carried out to decide the effectiveness of training programs. In this process, the strengths and aspects of the training programs that are open to improvement are emphasized. Therefore, curriculum evaluation studies are an important part of curriculum development. In this respect, it is important to consider the research studies on curriculum evaluation studies together in order to develop curriculum. This study aims to review the postgraduate theses completed on the evaluation of curricula in Turkey between 2007 and 2019 according to several variables and to determine the research trend in this field. The method of the research was formed by systematic review. In this context, 586 postgraduate theses written on curriculum evaluation were reviewed. It was determined that the theses showed a balanced distribution according to years and were generally at master’s level. The postgraduate theses were mainly based on quantitative research methods, and in recent years, there has been a tendency towards qualitative and mixed-method studies. Questionnaires and interviews were used in the theses mostly prepared in accordance with the survey model and the data were collected from teachers and students. In the one-fifth of the theses on the evaluation of curricula which were examined within the scope of this research (105 theses), it was determined that curriculum evaluation models were taken into consideration and that the most preferred model was Stufflebeam’s CIPP model. Following this model, Erden’s "Element-Oriented Curriculum Evaluation Model" and Tyler’s "Objective-Centered Evaluation Model" were also preferred frequently.