Thematic Content Analysis of Studies Concerning Misconceptions in Science Education in Turkey

Abstract

The current study aims to contribute to closing this gap in the literature by making a thematic content analysis. In this study, which was conducted to examine the studies on misconceptions in science education in Turkey by thematic content analysis according to their type, year, method, sample, sampling method, data collection tools, and topics, a total of 346 studies published between 2000–2022 and accessed through the YÖK Thesis Center, ERIC, and Google Scholar were analyzed. As a result of the research, it was determined that most of the studies on misconceptions in science education in Turkey were published in 2011 in the forms of articles, they mainly used the survey method, they were conducted generally at the primary education level, the most frequently used sampling method was convenience sampling, and they often utilized concept tests as data collection tools. In terms of the preferred topics, it was found that most studies aimed to detect misconceptions. It is a well-known fact that misconceptions prevent science learning. Although it is favorable that a substantial number of studies on misconceptions are conducted in Turkey, the fact that the vast majority of these studies are about detecting misconceptions is thought-provoking since it is equally important to determine the causes of misconceptions and to try to eliminate them. In addition, based on the conclusion that quantitative methods are mostly used in the studies analyzed, it is essential to increase the number of qualitative studies to gain in-depth information about misconceptions.