Okul Öncesı̇ Öğretmen Adaylarının Epı̇stemolojı̇k İnançlarının Çocuklarla Felsefe Öğretı̇mı̇ne İlı̇şkı̇n Görüşlerı̇ne Etkı̇sı̇nı̇n İncelenmesı̇

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to determine how pre-school teacher candidates' epistemological beliefs affect their views and conceptualizations about teaching philosophy with children. The secondary aim is to determine the epistemological belief levels of preschool teacher candidates. In order to achieve these goals, a mixed method, which combines qualitative and quantitative research methods, was used. The research was carried out with 52 participants studying in the field of pre-school education at a foundation university affiliated to YÖK in Istanbul. First, the Epistemological Belief Scale for Learning was applied to the participants in order to reach quantitative data, and the results were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Three subgroups of three persons (lower, middle and upper epistemological profiles) were formed within the framework of the epistemological belief scores reached. Opinion form for learning philosophy with children was applied to the sub-samples. In order to analyze the qualitative data obtained, an inductive content analysis was carried out through the continuous comparison method. Within the scope of the analysis results, it is seen that the average of epistemological belief scores of preschool teacher candidates is higher than the general average of the scale. At the same time, it is seen that pre-school teacher candidates with high epistemological beliefs emphasize the vision of science literacy within the scope of teaching philosophy with children, thinking skills, sense of curiosity, and child-centered approaches.The results were discussed within the framework of the relevant literature and suggestions were made in this context.