Youth Perspectives on the Phenomenon of Brain Drain: An Examination Based on Self-Determination Theory

Year 2024, Volume: 25 Issue: 2, 790 - 806, 31.08.2024

Gamze Soysal , Derya Atalan Ergin

https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.1445986

Abstract

Brain drain has become important issue for many countries. The brain drain of youth or well-educated people can have social and economic consequences for both the host countries and the countries of origin. This study aims to understand the motivations of educated youth for their decision to go abroad or stay in Turkey in the context of brain drain. This qualitative study conducted using theory-driven approach and a deductive process. We determined the research themes based on self-determination theory. A total of 15 youths aged 18-23 years participated in the study (Ngirls=8, Nboys=6, Ntransgender=1). The structured interview form contained 11 open-ended questions and each interview lasted almost 40 minutes. After transcribing the audio recordings, each researcher categorized youths’ responses under the themes of “relatedness”, “competence” and “autonomy”. The results showed that the need for relatedness is crucial for youths’ decision to stay in Turkey. However, the responses of the youth who wanted to go abroad tended to fall under the themes of "competence" and "autonomy". These findings may have drawn attention to the needs of youth and provided an opportunity to take various precautions in the educational and working environment before increasing levels of brain drain.

Keywords

Brain drain, youth, self-determination theory, relatedness, competence, autonomy

“Beyin Göçü” Olgusunda Gençlerin Görüşleri: Öz-belirleme Kuramı Temelinde Bir İnceleme

Abstract

Beyin göçü, birçok ülke için önemli bir sorun haline gelmiştir. Gençlerin veya iyi eğitim almış bireylerin beyin göçü, hem ev sahibi ülkeler hem de kök ülkeler için sosyal ve ekonomik sonuçlar doğurmaktadır. Bu çalışma, beyin göçü bağlamında eğitimli gençlerin yurt dışına gitme veya Türkiye'de kalmaya karar vermelerinin ardındaki motivasyonları anlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışmanı analizlerinde kuram temelli bir yaklaşım temel alınarak betimsel yaklaşım kullanılmış ve tümdengelimsel (dedüktif) bir süreç kullanılmıştır. Temalar Öz-belirleme kuramına dayanarak belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada 18-23 yaş arasındaki toplam 15 genç ile görüşülmüştür (Nkız=8, Nerkek=6, Ntransgender=1). Yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu 11 açık uçlu soru içermekte olup, her görüşme yaklaşık 40 dakika sürmüştür. Ses kayıtları deşifre edildikten sonra, her araştırmacı yanıtları "ilişkililik", "yetkinlik" ve "özerklik" temaları altında kategorize etmiştir. Sonuçlar, ilişkililik ihtiyacının gençlerin Türkiye'de kalmaya karar vermeleri için kritik önemde olduğunu göstermiştir. Bununla birlikte, yurt dışına gitmek isteyen gençlerin yanıtları genellikle "yetkinlik" ve "özerklik" temalarında yer almıştır. Gençlerin ihtiyaçlarına dikkat çeken bulgular özellikle eğitimli gençlerin beyin göçlerini önlemek amacıyla eğitim ve iş yaşamında çeşitli tedbirler alabilme fırsatı sunabilir.

Keywords

Beyin göçü, gençlik, öz-belirleme kuramı, ilişkisellik, yetkinlik, özerklik

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