Trends of the last 20 years of Postgraduate Theses in the Field of Science Education related to Biotechnological concepts in Turkey: A Content Analysis

Abstract

This study made for concepts related to biotechnology research trends between the years 2000-2020 graduate thesis in the field of science in Turkey, offers a descriptive content analysis. Within the aim of the study, a total of 65 postgraduate theses were examined by scanning the database of the YOK National Thesis Center. In this study, in which document analysis, one of the qualitative research designs, was used, theses were analyzed according to years, universities, study subjects, concepts, methods, data collection tools, sampling and sample size. According to the results obtained from the findings, it has been observed that the theses are predominantly master's theses, the postgraduate theses made in the field of science education related to biotechnological concepts were carried out in a total of 27 universities and the theses were mainly done in Gazi University, İnönü University and Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University. According to the subject distribution, it has been observed that the theses are predominantly focused on learning, attitude/perception/interest and teaching. In addition, it has been concluded that quantitative studies are mostly used in the examined theses, and empirical designs among quantitative research methods are preferred more than non-experimental designs. As data collection tools, mostly skill, attitude, perception, personality, etc. tests, achievement tests, Likert type questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used and it was observed that the most preferred sample group was university and high school students and the sample size was mostly between 101-300, 31-100. Based on the results of the study, researchers can focus on more detailed analysis in biotechnology education through meta-analysis.