Research Article

Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District

Volume: 8 Number: 2 October 28, 2025
TR EN

Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District

Abstract

This study investigates the spatial-cognitive representations, emotional responses, levels of disaster preparedness, and institutional expectations of fifth-grade middle school students in Bağcılar, a district of Istanbul that exemplifies urban life under high seismic hazard in Türkiye. Adopting a qualitative case study design, the research employed semi-structured interview forms to collect data, which were subsequently analyzed through content analysis. The results of the study reveal that students exhibit a vivid awareness of earthquake risks; however, this awareness is closely interwoven with intense feelings of anxiety, uncertainty, and perceived inadequacy. Rather than framing earthquakes as geophysical phenomena, students predominantly conceptualize them through their destructive impacts—such as loss of life and property, physical damage to the built environment—and the emotional responses they trigger, including fear, panic, and helplessness. Furthermore, students view disaster response and recovery not merely as matters of individual preparedness, but also as requiring institutional capacity, coordinated governance, and systematic risk-reduction measures led by authorities.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Social Studies Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 28, 2025

Submission Date

October 5, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 27, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 8 Number: 2

APA
Köse, Ç., Akçay, M., & Yazicioğlu, M. (2025). Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District. Journal of Social Sciences And Education, 8(2), 192-222. https://doi.org/10.53047/josse.1797249
AMA
1.Köse Ç, Akçay M, Yazicioğlu M. Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District. JOSSE. 2025;8(2):192-222. doi:10.53047/josse.1797249
Chicago
Köse, Çağlar, Mustafa Akçay, and Mesut Yazicioğlu. 2025. “Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District”. Journal of Social Sciences And Education 8 (2): 192-222. https://doi.org/10.53047/josse.1797249.
EndNote
Köse Ç, Akçay M, Yazicioğlu M (October 1, 2025) Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District. Journal of Social Sciences And Education 8 2 192–222.
IEEE
[1]Ç. Köse, M. Akçay, and M. Yazicioğlu, “Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District”, JOSSE, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 192–222, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.53047/josse.1797249.
ISNAD
Köse, Çağlar - Akçay, Mustafa - Yazicioğlu, Mesut. “Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District”. Journal of Social Sciences And Education 8/2 (October 1, 2025): 192-222. https://doi.org/10.53047/josse.1797249.
JAMA
1.Köse Ç, Akçay M, Yazicioğlu M. Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District. JOSSE. 2025;8:192–222.
MLA
Köse, Çağlar, et al. “Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District”. Journal of Social Sciences And Education, vol. 8, no. 2, Oct. 2025, pp. 192-2, doi:10.53047/josse.1797249.
Vancouver
1.Çağlar Köse, Mustafa Akçay, Mesut Yazicioğlu. Fifth-Grade Students’ Perceptions of a Potential Istanbul Earthquake: A Qualitative Case Study from Bağcılar District. JOSSE. 2025 Oct. 1;8(2):192-22. doi:10.53047/josse.1797249