Screen Time of Gifted Students During The Pandemic Period: A Mixed Method Research

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to explain the effects of the qualitative results obtained from the data which is gathered from the interviews with gifted students and their parents regarding the screen use of gifted students between the ages of 12-18 on the potential screen addictions of gifted students. This study is mixed methods research. The rationale for choosing mixed methods research is complementarity, based on the fact that results from quantitative and qualitative data clarify and detail each other's results. For the research, explanatory sequential/ (sequential quantitative → qualitative) mixed methods research design was used. Quantitative data of the study were collected through a questionnaire created by the researcher from a group of 160 gifted students aged 12-18 and 100 parents. The data obtained from the questionnaire were analyzed by ratio and frequency analysis. In the light of the findings obtained from the quantitative results, structured interviews were conducted with 16 gifted students and 17 parents with purposeful sampling from the research group. Content analysis technique was used in the analysis of the data obtained from the interviews. Quantitative and qualitative research results were brought together in the mixed methods study and the results were integrated. The findings of the research were explained under sub-headings such as the duration of screen use before and during the pandemic, the number of technological devices used, the time spent in front of the screen, the purpose for which this time was used, and the effects of the time spent in front of the screen on students. With the pandemic, the time spent in front of the screen has increased, the duration of sleep has increased, the purposes of using the screen have changed, and the situation of being uncomfortable and unhappy in case of not being able to reach the screen has increased. As a suggestion to this situation, it is suggested to carry out awareness raising activities for families and children.