The purpose of this research is to analyse the thematic and methodological trends of computational thinking skills-related graduate theses in Turkey. Within the scope of this purpose, a total of 38 works, including 30 Master's and 8 doctoral studies, published in the National Thesis Centre database of YÖK (Council of Higher Education), were analysed using a document analysis model, one of the qualitative research methods. A descriptive content analysis technique was used to examine graduate theses. According to the results of the research, it has been concluded that the effects of programming teaching, robotics, and block-based visual programming on computational thinking skills are examined in graduate theses. It has been determined that a very limited number of design and development studies have been carried out to develop computational thinking skills. It has been observed that the majority of graduate theses were made in the field of Computer Education and Instructional Technology and most theses were published in 2019. It has been concluded that graduate theses are mostly designed by using the quantitative research method and quasi-experimental design, and secondary school sample profile is mostly preferred in the studies. However, it has been seen that the data collected by using a scale, interview, and observation data collection tools are analysed in accordance with predictive analysis techniques. As a result of the research, it has been recommended that design studies should be carried out in which qualitative or mixed research methods are used and especially pre-school sample profiles are preferred.
Read full abstract