Turkish Society Research Articles

Management of Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia: Turkish Modified Delphi-Based Consensus Statement for Special Considerations

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired disorder of platelets with a complex and unclear mechanism of increased immune destruction or impaired production of platelets. While the management of ITP is evolving, there is still a need for guidance, particularly in certain circumstances such as pregnancy, emergencies, or patients requiring co-medications. We aimed to determine the tendencies of hematologists in Türkiye in the event of such special considerations. Applying a modified Delphi method, the Turkish National ITP Working Group, founded under the auspices of the Turkish Society of Hematology, developed a questionnaire consisting of statements regarding pregnancy, emergencies, and circumstances requiring co-treatment with antiaggregants or anticoagulants. A total of 107 hematologists working in university or state hospitals voted for their agreement or disagreement with the statements for two sequential rounds. The participating hematologists reached an agreement on starting treatment for pregnant patients with platelets of less than 30x109/L and delivery either vaginally or by cesarean section being safe at platelet counts above 50x109/L. For emergencies and the rescue management of ITP, the panel agreed against the use of high-dose corticosteroids alone, preferring combinations with transfusions or intravenous immunoglobulin. For patients who require interventions, platelet counts of >50x109/L were regarded as safe for low-risk procedures as well as co-treatment with antiplatelets or anticoagulants. As the National ITP Study Group, we have observed the need to increase the practice guidance regarding patients with primary ITP requiring additional treatments including invasive interventions and co-treatments for coagulation. Decisions on the management of ITP during pregnancy should be individualized. There is a lack of consensus on the thresholds of platelet counts as well as co-morbidities and co-medications. This lack of consensus may be due to variations in practices.

Picture Naming Properties of Turkish People with Fluent and Non-Fluent Aphasia

Objectives: People with aphasia (PWA) have naming problems. During naming activities, they produce paraphasias. However, there is no significant association between paraphasia and aphasia types. This study aimed to identify the relationship between paraphasia and aphasia type, as well as the effect of cueing on naming performance. Materials and Methods: The study comprised 37 Turkish PWA who were divided into two groups: fluent and non-fluent aphasia. Participants were presented with 40 pictures and asked to name them. Cues were given in case they did not answer correctly. The participants' answers, the types of paraphasias, and how they responded to the cues were all recorded. Results: Participants in both groups significantly increased their naming performance for all words when cues were given. A total of 181 paraphasias were observed in the fluent aphasia group: Phonemic paraphasias were the most common (41.4%), followed by semantic paraphasias with 32.1%. There were 270 paraphasias in the non-fluent aphasia group, with phonemic paraphasia being the most common (60.7%). Conclusion: Phonemic and neologistic paraphasias were significantly higher in the non-fluent group. Phonemic and neologistic paraphasia is more common in those with non-fluent aphasia. This study found that the cueing method had a favourable influence on PWAs' naming performance, which is consistent with prior research.

Seeking The Middle Ground in Precarious Democracy: Interfaith Engagement in Contemporary Indonesian and Turkish Societies Within The Context of Declaration of Human Fraternity

As the two most populous Muslim nations carrying the status of precarious democracy, Indonesia and Turkey are still trying to be committed to their credentials as nations that hold dear their multireligious community. While Indonesia follows the value of Pancasila to keep interfaith and intercultural solidarity, Turkey still considers the value of secularism as a core concept to equally treat diverse religious and cultural communities of Turkey. Interestingly, while interfaith engagement in the context of Indonesia is much stronger and visible, discussions about interfaith engagements in Turkey have been refrained due to several reasons. This paper will explore the dynamics of interfaith engagements in Indonesia and Turkey, especially between Muslims and Christians (particularly in the case of Catholics) after the Declaration of Human Fraternity between the Vatican and al-Azhar through the theory of interfaith engagement and the theory of democratic citizenship.

Disinformation in Times of Disaster and Crisis

This research is based on 3 consecutive disaster (pandemic, earthquake and flood) in Turkey. During these successive disasters, it has been observed that the traditional and social media handling of similar news has changed. The political stance, in particular, affects the way the news is reflected, causing the elements of disinformation to increase and the target audience to be affected by the views of the news encoder. Although the political stance displayed by the traditional media tools is clear, the political views and goals are not always clear because the news flow in the new media is carried out in the context of personal accounts. Within the scope of the research, 3 examples were selected for each disaster shared by the Turkish people on Twitter, one of the social media tools, during 3 disasters. Similar news in the traditional media was also examined and a comparison was made between the two media channels. The semiotic method was used in the study. The semiotic method was used in the study. One of the possible results of this study is the finding that disinformation elements change according to the way the news is presented in social media and traditional media. On the other hand, despite the fact that the news in social media is produced by people, it has been noticed that sometimes these news are more accurate than traditional media and that the disinformation desired to be created in the traditional media is tried to be prevented.

The increased chromosomal DNA damage in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever

ABSTRACT Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an inherited autoinflammatory disease. In this study, we aimed to assess chromosomal DNA damage and cell proliferation by using cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN-cyt) assay in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of untreated FMF patients carrying M694V and R202Q mutations, which are the most common MEFV gene mutations in Turkish society. The study included 20 untreated FMF patients with M694V and R202Q mutations and 20 healthy individuals of similar age and sex as the control group. Micronucleus (MN), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs), and nuclear buds (NBUDs) were scored in the obtained bi-nucleated (BN) cells. Additionally, the nuclear division index (NDI) was calculated using the scores of mononuclear, binuclear, and multinuclear cells. We found that MN and NPBs frequencies in FMF patients were significantly higher than in controls, and number of metaphases was significantly lower (respectively, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in NBUDs frequencies and NDI values between FMF patients and controls (p > 0.05). Our study is the first to evaluate FMF patients’ lymphocytes using the CBMN-cyt assay, as no previous research has been found in this respect. Increased MN and NPB frequencies may be useful as biomarkers for chromosomal DNA damage, and may indicate a potential for elevated cancer risk in untreated FMF patients.

KADEM’s vision of gender justice and neopatriarchal masculinity in illiberal Turkey

ABSTRACT Women’s and LGBTI + rights have always been under attack in Turkey, but recent developments in AKP’s attempts to consolidate a pro-family, pro-birth, and Islamist gender regime based on the ‘moral’ regulation of women and LGBTI + creates an atmosphere that must be examined in detail. KADEM, a women’s GONGO established in 2013, plays a crucial role in this anti-gender backlash context, positioning their line of action as a challenge to the global feminist attempts to impose Western standards on Turkish society while advocating for women’s rights from a culturalist position. We analyse KADEM’s construction of men and masculinities in the materials on their website to understand their strategies of legitimisation of a form of neopatriarchal masculinity along the traditional ‘family values’ to see how KADEM serves as a transmitter of an Islamic neopatriarchal culture, with its implicit justifications of men’s patriarchal roles and duties in a neoliberal society.

Identification of HLA alleles involved in immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura patients from Turkey.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is one of the rare group disorders classified as thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs). Approximately 90% of TTP developed immune-mediation by the formation of antibodies against the enzyme ADAMTS-13. The exact cause is unknown. To establish an association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and autoimmune basis, as susceptibility or protection against the disease, we contributed a study aiming to evaluate the role of HLA in immune-mediated TTP (iTTP). Considering epidemiological factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, and geographical origins, we contributed the study in our country, Turkey, which consist of a very heterogeneous population. Patients' data collection was retrospectively from electronic database on two University hospitals having big therapeutic apheresis service. Control arm was healthy people registered as stem cell donors matched in terms of age and sex. The frequency of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles between acquired TTP and the control group was compared using the chi-square method. Yates correction and logistic regression were performed on these results. A total of 75 iTTP patients and 150 healthy individuals enrolled to the study. HLA-DRB1∗11, HLA-DQB1∗03, HLA-DRB1∗11:01, HLA-DRB1∗14:01, HLA-DRB1∗13:05, HLA-DRB1∗11 + HLA-DQB1∗03 allele pair and HLA-DRB1∗15 + HLA- DQB1∗06 were proved to be susceptibility allele pairs for iTTP. HLA-DRB1∗15, HLA-DRB1∗01:01, HLA-DRB1∗07:01, HLA-DRB1∗13:01, HLA-DRB1∗14:54, HLA-DQB1∗05:01, HLA-DQB1∗02:02 and HLA-DRB1∗07 + HLA-DQB1∗02 allele pair were found to be protective against iTTP. Our findings support an association with iTTP across very heterogenous populations in Turkey.

Cultural-Feminist Tendencies in Turkish Society in the Example of Filiz Bi̇ngölçe’s Creativity

In Turkish society, feminism in themes of women’s emancipation and women’s rights began to develop more intensively in literary and artistic creativity in the second half of the 20th century and continues to varying degrees until today. In addition to literary works, sociological studies, and various forms of artistic creativity expressing feminist content, a unique example of a specific female expression appeared in a specialized dictionary of female jargon. The subject of this paper is the lexicographic and literary analysis of social contribution of the author Filiz Bingolče who devoted a significant part of her work to pointing out the position of Turkish women in a traditional society, which requires them to be humble and obedient wives and mothers, which represents a challenge for new generations of young women who are living in a time of accelerated scientific and technological developments while at the same time trying to find their place as respected individuals in society. Using the method of analyzing the selected corpus of the author’s significant work, which consists of the “Dictionary of Feminine Jargon” and “Threnody of Murdered Women”, our goal is to present to the scientific public the author’s feminist struggle and her contribution to the understanding of the intimate and hidden female being in a traditionally male environment. We can conclude that according to Turkish women, even in the modern era, the constraints of traditions cannot be easily unchained and that the battle for equal existence continues both on a wider social scale and in the individual context of women as individuals.

Quiet Quitting reason and behavior scale design and development process.

The concept of "Quiet Quitting", which might be considered new in the literature, is used to describe a passive and silent giving up. The aim of this study is to develop a scale to evaluate both the causes and consequences of "quiet quitting" which is believed to be increasing for various reasons in our country as well as in the world. Five-stage scale development method which was presented by Cohen and Swerdik was used in the process of developing the Quiet Quitting Reason and Behavior Scale (QQRBS). First, the conceptual structure of the scale was determined. In the second stage, the scale was structured. Structuring the scale is deciding on the scale type and scaling technique. The third stage is the first application of the scale. After the scale was applied, factor analysis, internal consistency assessment and validity studies were carried out in the item analysis section, which is the fourth stage. The fifth stage is the second application stage of the scale and at this stage, the scale was reviewed by test-retest and an application guideline was prepared. Cronbach's alpha value of draft items is 0.87, quiet quitting behavior sub-dimension Cronbach's Alpha value is 0.76 and reasons for quiet quitting Cronbach's Alpha value is 0.820. It was decided to keep the remaining 35 items after EFA analysis because the corrected correlation numbers of the items were >0.30. This study explains the design and development process of the QQRBS in Turkish society. According to this developed scale, as the scale mean score of the total and sub-dimensions increases, the tendency to quiet quitting increases.

Contesting the Kemalist State: The Land Question and the Grass Root Civic Activity in the 1920–1930s Turkey

The author scrutinizes the development of civil society in the early republican Turkey focusing on the models of its interaction with the state in the context of Kemalist revolution, namely the large-scale reforms of the 1920s and 1930s aimed at building the “New Turkey” as a modern secular nation-state. He analyses various manifestations of grass root civic activity in Turkey in the 1920s and 1930s. In doing so, it focuses on the rural population’s reaction to the Kemalist land and taxation reforms. The article contributes to the exiting literature in two following ways. First, it challenges the existing assumption that the rural population of the early Republican Turkey sporadically protested against only the most visible cases of social injustice. It also suggests counterarguments to the thesis that at that time the center and periphery had their own socio-political dynamics isolated one from another. Second, the article introduces to the reader a wide range of Turkish sources (e.g., “public columns” in the main periodicals of that time, petitions published in the yearly books of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, party inspectors’ reports stored in the fund of the Republican People’s Party). An analysis of the data presented in these sources and its comparison against already known historical facts form the article’s methodological framework. The author explains the key social contradictions about the land question. He further on defines the main forms of systemic grass root civic activity and the structural elements of the Kemalists social basis on the periphery. The main findings are that in the 1920–30s the rural Turkey witnessed both legal and illegal forms of resistance. The absence of a full-scale working formal state structure on the periphery made the Kemalist state curbing this resistance by using patron-client networks centered on the figures of “aga”, the wealthy local landlords and merchants.

Sufism And Religious Politics In Secular Democracy : The Case of Turky

This paper examines the case of secularism in a Muslim country, focusing on Turkey. It seeks to answer the question of why the sufism and politics of religion can flourish in Turkey, a country where secularism is strictly enforced. Since 1924, the Muslim-majority country has established itself as a secular state, which separates religion from state politics. The policy initiated by Mustafa Kemal Atat?rk (also known as Ataturk) represented a rejection of the Islamic caliphate system that had been implemented by the Uthmaniyah dynasty since the 13th century. Ataturk sought to modernize Turkey based on democratic and secular principles. Although secularism has been a long-standing feature of Turkish society, the influence of Islam remains evident in the socio-cultural fabric of the country. Indeed, the passion for Islam has been visible in the political landscape since the early 1990s, particularly in sufism movement and political party. This paper is based on a qualitative study conducted through a literature search, supported by observation of events based on information from the mass media. The result of this study is an important finding about the reality of the dilemma in the implementation of secularism in the Muslim country of Turkey. That is, there is a paradox between the politics of religion and secularism in the Turkish state.

Attitudes among physicians towards transgender and gender diverse people in Turkey: Relationship with religiousness, political view and conservatism.

According to several recent studies, physicians in various medical branches have some differences in attitudes towards transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) persons based on religious or political beliefs. Our study aims to uncover the attitudes of the general physician community in Turkey, which has a youthful profile, regarding TGD individuals. The attitudes towards transgender individuals scale (ATTI) and the general conservatism scale, along with a form that asks about socio-demographic factors, political beliefs, and level of religion, were administered online to physicians. The ATTI score of physicians (mean=77.8) is favourable and did not vary among branches. Being female, being close to TGD, having left-wing views, low conservatism and low religious belief scores were associated with positive attitudes towards TGD individuals. The physician profile's moderate religious belief and left-wing views can be interpreted as a country-specific dynamic and did not prevent the approach from being positive. Despite physicians' positive attitude towards TGD individuals on a professional level, there is resistance to contacting them in their daily lives. The possibility of the partial contribution of socially desirable response behaviour to positive scores should not be ignored.

Validity and Reliability of the 21st-Century Skills Scale.

Background Purpose: This study was carried out to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the 21st-Century Skills Scale in Nursing Students. Methods: It is a methodological type of research. In the validity study of the scale, language validity, content validity, and structure validity were examined. Internal consistency analysis was performed in the reliability study. Results: According to the exploratory factor analysis, the total variance explained by the eight-factor structure was calculated as 57.15%. Items 63, 62, 60, and 15 were removed from the scale, as they did not contribute to any factor. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model was statistically significant and valid (χ2 /df = 2.255). Conclusions: The results of this research indicate that the 21st-Century Skills Scale is a valid scale with 8 sub-dimensions and 59 items in Turkish society and can be used reliably to determine the 21st-century skills of nursing students.

Development of the Critically Ill Patient Eye Assessment Scale: A study of validity and reliability.

Eye care and assessment of the eye are critical for intensive care patients to prevent ocular complications like dry eye and corneal abrasion. However, there is no measurement tool developed for intensive care patients that examines the risks of ocular complications. This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable tool, the Critically Ill Patient Eye Assessment Scale (CIPEAS), for assessing the risk of ocular complications and determining the frequency of eye care. This study is an instrument development study. This methodological study was conducted with 151 intensive care patients in Turkey between March 2022 and March 2023. Data were collected with the Patient Information Form and the CIPEAS. The data were evaluated using SPSS 23 statistical software. AMOS 21 was used to verify the structure obtained with CFA. Exploration and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to determine the scale's factorial structure. As a result of exploratory factor analysis, a six-item scale consisting of a single dimension was obtained, explaining 59.993% of the total variance. The fit indices of the scale were found to be χ2/SD = 2.653, GFI = 0.954, RMSEA = 0.075, NFI = 0.949 and CFI = 0.967. Cronbach's alpha of the scale was found to be 0.862. The CIPEAS was found to be a valid and reliable assessment tool. The Critically Ill Patient Eye Assessment Scale is a valid and reliable tool for Turkish society for assessing the risk of ocular complications. It is recommended for various national and international studies with different patients in intensive care units.

Future change of humid heat extremes and population exposure in Turkey

AbstractGlobal climate projections show that humid heat extremes will expand toward the higher latitudes, making the midlatitudes hotspots for these extremes. Therefore, a thorough explanation of their regional characteristics becomes crucial, given that the changes in these extremes can potentially render a large proportion of the global population at risk. Here, we perform the first analysis of historical and projected changes in the intensity and frequency of humid heat extremes and quantify the population exposure to these extremes in Turkey, using long‐term simulations from the non‐hydrostatic mesoscale model of Consortium for Small‐scale Modeling (COSMO‐CLM) under the RCP8.5 emission scenario. We portray not only the nationwide changes in the humid heat extremes and population exposure but also their regional aspects by exploiting the K‐means clustering algorithm. Our results suggest significant future increases in the intensity and frequency of these extremes over a wide geographical area, which includes the surroundings of Adana, Antalya, Izmir, Sakarya, Ordu and Diyarbakir, most of which are coastal locations. Over most of these regions, severe humid heat stress is expected to last nearly a month every year, with almost 56% of the land area is projected to experience local historical upper tail heat stress conditions for at least an additional 10 consecutive hours. Further, we explicate a significant rise in the number of people exposed to severe humid heat stress, concentrated along most coastal regions, by as much as 1.6 million person‐days. More than 20% of Turkey's population may confront severe humid heat stress for at least 1 h, with that percentage falling to 4.15% for at least five consecutive hours, which indicates that people will not only endure more intense humid heat stress but also be exposed to these conditions consecutively over a period of many hours.

A Survey of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG): Are the Oncologists Trained for Decision Making on Geriatric Cancer Patients?

Most newly diagnosed cancers occur in older adults, and it is important to understand a patient's underlying health status when making treatment decisions. Therefore, clinicians need enhanced competencies and skills to effectively care for this population. However, most clinicians receive minimal to no training in geriatrics. This study aims to evaluate the education and training levels in geriatric oncology among Turkish physicians and to understand the factors influencing oncologists' treatment decisions for geriatric cancer patients. A 24-question survey was prepared to obtain the participating physicians' demographic information, as well as to inquire whether they had received training during their medical education and residency on how to approach geriatric patients, in what process(es) they had received the training, whether they were currently treating geriatric patients, what they focused on when evaluating geriatric patients, and what they thought about their training and preparedness for approaching geriatric patients. The questionnaire was sent online to radiation and medical oncologists, and the link was published on the Turkish Society of Radiation Oncology and the Turkish Society of Medical Oncology websites. Two hundred and three physicians participated in the survey, 131 of whom were women. The median age was 41.66 years (24-69 years). One hundred and fifty-six physicians (76.1%) received specialty education at the university hospital. One hundred and three of them were radiation oncologists, and 80 were medical oncologists. Of the physicians, 19.7% received education in geriatrics before they specialized in oncology, and 6.9% said they were educated after specialization. When determining suitability for radiotherapy, 10.7% of radiation oncologists said that they use geriatric assessment tools. Similarly, 13.8% of medical oncologists claimed that they used geriatric assessment tools in determining suitability for chemotherapy. Of the physicians, 177 (86.3%) thought that geriatric evaluation could independently increase patient survival rate. Furthermore, patient cognitive status, functional status, physiological age, polypharmacy, geriatric specialist recommendations, inpatient services, patient relatives, and similar factors were found to be useful in treatment decisions. Finally, 92.7% of the participants believed that receiving education would have changed their perspectives on treating geriatric patients. Our results provide perspectives on developing knowledge on and skills in geriatric training among oncologists. Learning new approaches is necessary for oncologists who more frequently confront geriatric patients with cancer.

FIVE SYLLABIC POETS: ARCHITECTS OF A NEW COUNTRY

The study is devoted to the Five Syllabic Poets who were active in the early twentieth century, during the transformation of the Ottoman Empire into the Turkish Republic. This period was marked not only by important political and social changes, but also by dramatic transformations in the cultural sphere, including literature. The Five Syllabic Poets, also known as the “Five Silabists”, aimed to create a new, authentic Turkish poetry that reflected the spirit and needs of modern Turkish society. They made a significant contribution to Turkish literature, noting their approach to poetry and their desire to make it accessible to a wide audience. The Five Syllabic Poets sometimes made use of the materials of folk literature, which were used in a decorative style. The beauties of the country, the realities of Anatolia with its people and landscapes, their personal feelings, especially the national and historical. The fact that all five poets express a number of folk literature motifs in the treatment of these subjects shows their sensitivity to this issue. The poetry of these poets also reflects the impact of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s reforms on the literary process, indicating important changes in the consciousness of Turkish society during the period of transformation. The analysis of the works of the Five Syllabic Poets allows us to better understand and evaluate the historical context and cultural transformations in Turkey at the turn of the century.

P-456 Sexual attitudes in men undergoing Infertility treatment:Turkish sample

Abstract Study question 1. What are the sexual attitudes in men undergoing Infertility treatment ? Summary answer When the infertility reason arises from their spouse, men tend to display a more self-centred sexual attitude. What is known already Men experiencing infertility often hesitate to seeking information or ask questions about sexuality due to prevailing societal norms.Health professionals predominantly focus on addressing women’s issues, leaving the male partner feeling like an outsider who observes the treatment process from a distance. Study design, size, duration This research was conducted in cross-sectional type.,September and December 2017. 141 participant. Participants/materials, setting, methods 141 men who applied to an infertility clinic in Istanbul on Tuesdays and Thursdays between September 2017 and December 2017. The participants’ inclusion criteria were as follows: being men between the ages of 18-49, literate, accepting to participate, and having no diagnosed psychiatric illness.. All men meeting the sampling criteria were invited to participate, and there were no refusals. This setting accepts couples who have been married for at least one year and infertility problems. Main results and the role of chance The mean score of Hendrick Sexual Attitude Scale (HSAS) was 69.78 ± 9.46. Among its subscales, Birth Control had the highest mean score (11.95 ± 2.81), while Instrumentality had the lowest mean score (10.43 ± 4.34). Men whose spouse was over 30, whose marriage age was over 27, and the cause of infertility was unexplained had higher HSAS mean scores. Additionally, men with male-factor infertility scored higher in HSAS than female-factor infertility. Healthcare professionals involved in infertility treatment must prioritise addressing the sexuality of both partners. Male partners may struggle in this aspect, leading to potential misunderstandings or incomplete understanding of sexual information. By addressing and dispelling erroneous cognitive schemas, false beliefs, and self-centred attitudes, healthcare professionals can play a significant role in supporting both partners in their sexual well-being throughout the infertility treatment process. Providing sexual counselling for couples, both jointly and individually, can have a positive impact. However, it is essential to recognise that male partners may be reluctant to engage in such counselling, resulting in suppressed problems and thoughts. Healthcare providers must actively involve male partners and encourage them to share their feelings and concerns professionally and openly. Limitations, reasons for caution The participants included from a single outpatient clinic and little sample size which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Due to the topic’s taboo in Turkish society, some men might not feel openly expressing their thoughts and feelings while answering the questions, potentially affecting the accuracy of the responses. Wider implications of the findings The findings of this research highlight the significance of further investigations into men facing infertility issues from various cultural backgrounds. Qualitative and quantitative research can offer valuable insights into the complexities of sexual attitudes in diverse cultural settings. Collobaration between infertility clinics and liaison psychiatry may be advantageous. Trial registration number not applicable

The Social Exclusion Scale for Children (SESC): A Validity and Reliability Study in Turkish

Social exclusion is a multidimensional concept defined as being away from social resources and opportunities, being unable to participate in society, and being socially disadvantaged in society. In Türkiye, problems, such as economic disadvantages, inequalities in access to public services, migration and displacement, and lack of infrastructure make social exclusion an important risk factor for children. Therefore, adapting the Social Exclusion Scale for Children to Turkish culture and language can help identify children exposed to social exclusion, better understand the problem, develop effective interventions, and build a more inclusive society. The aim of this study was to adapt the Social Exclusion Scale for Children (SESC) to Turkish society. The data of this methodological study were collected from 380 children aged 12–17. The content validity, construct validity, and internal consistency of SESC were analyzed. The results of this study showed the validity and reliability of SESC as a measurement instrument to assess social exclusion in Turkish children aged 12–17 in the school environment. The Turkish version of SESC was found brief, practical, age-appropriate, self-reported, easily applicable, valid, and reliable measurement instrument.

The Perception of The Laz People in Ekşi Sözlük: Patriotic, Intelligent and Humorous People

In this study, the researchers have tried to determine what the perception of the Laz people by the Turkish society was. Although the ethnic origins of the Laz people in the past might be different; in the last millennium the Laz people have not only become culturally close to the Turks but also they have become ethnically united through marriages. In this process, the Laz people and Turks came to share the same religious and similar cultural codes and finally became relatives. Almost all Laz people in İstanbul and in other big cities have social, political and cultural integration with other Anatolian peoples, and this integration is evident in all its dimensions, even in Rize and Artvin, the homeland of the Laz people. In this study, the perception of the Laz people by the Turkish society was studied in 247 comments on the articles regarding the Laz people and the concept of Laz in Ekşi Sözlük. The entries were separated and analyzed as positive and negative comments. Consequently, it was understood that the perception of the Laz people by the Turkish society was predominantly positive and the Turkish people perceived the Laz people as patriotic, intelligent and humorous people.