VALUES OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CONCERNING DEMOCRACY

Abstract

As well as cognitive, psychomotor and intuitive areas, affective area may well be effective in imparting understanding of democracy to students. Indeed, studies show that 25% of all learned behaviour can be explained by affective characteristics alone. In Turkey too there are studies in this context leading to various findings concerning students’ democracy-related perceptions and attitudes. The present study seeks answers to such questions as what comes to minds of university students when there is mention of democracy, which values of democracy they experience in their environments and whether there are significant differences between the opinions of students in this respect. Sub-Problems of this research are what do you think of university students when it comes to democracy? What are these values in their environment? Is there a meaningful difference between students' views? Responses to these questions may contribute to the development of education programmes which will in turn serve to the purpose of training individuals who adopt, defend and further improve democracy. The study used the surveying technique of quantitative research phenomenological method of qualitative research together accompanied by baseline analysis and focus group interview. In quantitative survey, five values that students have in their minds in relation to democracy were gathered and tabulated as percentage distribution. Then these data were made subject to content, discourse and speck analysis. Semi-structured focus group meetings were conducted with male and female students randomly selected from all classes. Responses given by students were recorded and then transcribed. Grammar mistakes and other problems in students’ statements were corrected by taking the consent of students concerned and included in the survey. Students in general attributed such meanings as equality, freedom, justice and human rights to the concept of democracy. They stressed that they rarely come across such values and appropriate behaviour in environments they live and pointed out to political parties, deputies, people, legislation, disrespect and nepotism and favouritism as causes.