Teachers' Social Network Tendency and Workplace Friendship: A Mixed-Method Study

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between teachers' social network tendencies and their perceptions of workplace friendships, employing a mixed-methods convergent parallel design. The study sample was determined using stratified sampling and consisted of 329 teachers working in various high school types (Anatolian, Vocational, Science, etc.) in the Efeler district of Aydın, Turkey. Data were collected via the Social Network Tendencies Scale, Workplace Friendship Scale, and semi-structured interviews with 28 teachers. Findings show that female teachers and those aged 51 and above report higher levels of social networking tendencies and workplace friendship. Teachers working in vocational high schools also score higher on both variables compared to those in other types of schools. Social network tendency was positively associated with workplace friendship (r=.549, p<.05). Qualitative results suggest that teachers prioritize personal traits, such as empathy, trust, and respect, over hierarchical status in their interactions. The research revealed that quantitative and qualitative findings support each other. The study recommends fostering a trust-based school culture and implementing concrete practices such as structured peer-mentoring to enhance teachers’ social interaction.

Keywords

• Mixed-method research
• social network tendency
• teacher
• workplace friendship

Öğretmenlerin Sosyal Ağ Eğilimi ve İş Yeri Arkadaşlığı: Bir Karma Yöntem Araştırması

Öz

Bu çalışma, karma yöntem yakınsak paralel desen aracılığıyla öğretmenlerin sosyal ağ eğilimleri ile işyerinde arkadaşlık algıları arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektedir. Çalışma örneklemi tabakalı örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak belirlenmiş ve Türkiye'nin Aydın ilinin Efeler ilçesinde çeşitli lise türlerinde (Anadolu, Meslek, Fen vb.) çalışan 329 öğretmenden oluşmuştur. Veriler, Sosyal Ağ Eğilimleri Ölçeği, İşyeri Arkadaşlığı Ölçeği ve 28 öğretmenle yapılan yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yoluyla toplanmıştır. Bulgular, kadın öğretmenlerin ve 51 yaş ve üstü öğretmenlerin daha yüksek düzeyde sosyal ağ eğilimleri ve işyeri arkadaşlığı bildirdiklerini göstermektedir. Meslek liselerinde çalışan öğretmenler, diğer okul türlerindekilere kıyasla her iki değişkende daha yüksek puan almaktadır. Sosyal ağ eğilimi, işyeri arkadaşlığı ile pozitif bir ilişki içindedir (r=.549, p<.05). Nitel sonuçlar, öğretmenlerin etkileşimlerinde hiyerarşik statüden çok empati, güven ve saygı gibi kişisel özelliklere öncelik verdiklerini göstermektedir. Araştırma, niceliksel ve niteliksel bulguların birbirini desteklediğini ortaya koymuştur. Çalışma, öğretmenlerin sosyal etkileşimini geliştirmek için güvene dayalı bir okul kültürünün teşvik edilmesini ve yapılandırılmış akran mentorluğu gibi somut uygulamaların hayata geçirilmesini önermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Karma yöntem araştırması
• sosyal ağ eğilimi
• öğretmen
• iş yeri arkadaşlığı

Kaynakça

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