Pre-Service Turkish Language Teachers' Metaphorical Perceptions of Social Media Platforms

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine pre-service Turkish Language teachers’ metaphorical perceptions of social media platforms. Phenomenology, which is a qualitative research design, was used in the study. The sample consisted of 70 first-, second-, third- and fourth- grade students of the Department of Turkish Language Education of the Faculty of Education of Van Yuzuncu Yil University. Data were collected using a form developed to help participants write metaphors on their minds and to express themselves clearly. The form consisted of a statement in the form of “Social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.) are like… because…,” of which participants were asked to fill in the blanks to find out exactly to what they compared social media platforms and why. Data were analyzed using content analysis, which is a qualitative analysis method. Participants generated 73 metaphors, 67 of which were accepted as valid. The most frequently used metaphors were drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, and sources of information. The metaphors were grouped under ten conceptual categories; addictive, harmful, pros and cons, communication, unnecessary and useless, useful, necessity, vastness, trap, and other. The categories of addictive (22.38%) and harmful (22.38%) had the largest percentages. Of all metaphors, 37 (55.2%) were negative while 16 (23.88%) positive. Suggestions were made at the end of the study.