Metaphoric Perceptions of Engineering Students Regarding Concepts of Science, Technology and Design

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify perceptions of students studying at faculty of engineering regarding science, technology and design through metaphors. The sample group is consisted of a total of 130 students who are at the first, second, third and fourth year of their education in civil engineering department of a state university in the Eastern Black Sea region. The data of the study is collected by having students complete the following sentences: “Science is like ……..; because ……..”, “Technology is like ……..; because ……..”, “Design is like ……..; because ……..”. In this study, which uses phenomenological research pattern within the framework of qualitative research perspective, the data obtained is analyzed through content analysis. In the research, it is seen that metaphors identified by most of the students regarding the concept of science are “space”, “ocean” and “tree”, regarding the concept of technology are “food” and “human”, regarding the concept of design is “imagination”. At the end of the study, it is found that most of the students perceive the concept of science as “infinite”, “changing and developing”, “enlightening”, “life source” and “nerve-shredding”, the concept of technology as “changing and developing”, “facilitating”, “harmful as much as beneficial” and “unlimited”, the concept of design as “imaginary”. Moreover, it is identified that metaphors produced regarding concepts of science and technology are more in numbers compared to metaphors produced regarding the concept of design.