Exploring First-Year University Students’ Metaphorical Perceptions of Education, School, Teacher, and Student
Year 2025,
Volume: 6 Issue: 3, 180 - 197, 25.12.2025
Muhammet Doruk
,
Kerem Aktaş
,
Sinan Keskin
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine first-year university students' perceptions of education, school, teacher and student concepts through metaphors. The participants of the study consisted of 222 first-year students from the Faculties of Education and Theology at a university in Türkiye. This research adopted a phenomenological approach within a qualitative research design. Specifically, it examined university students’ metaphorical perceptions of education, school, teachers, and students. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Within the scope of the study, 736 metaphors were analyzed and 315 distinct metaphors were identified. The findings revealed that first-year university students generated both positive and negative metaphors for these concepts. Furthermore, the study determined that university students held more favorable perceptions of education and teachers than of school and students.
Ethical Statement
Ethics Declaration:
This study followed all the rules stated to be followed within the “Higher Education Institutions Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Directive” scope. None of the actions specified under the title of “Actions Contrary to Scientific Research and Publication Ethics,” which is the second part of the directive, were not carried out.
Ethics committee permission information
Name of the committee that made the ethical evaluation: Hakkari University
Date of ethical review decision: 02.01.2025
Ethics assessment document issue number: 2024/246
References
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Akgün, E. (2016). Prospective pre-school teachers’ metaphors about the concept of “child” and “pre-school teacher”. Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 16(4), 1652–1672. https://doi.org/10.17240/aibuefd.2016.16.4-5000192939
-
Altun, S. A., & Apaydın, Ç. (2013). Metaphorical perception on the concept of “education” of prospective girls and men teachers. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Yönetimi, 19(3), 329–354.
-
Arslan, M., & Bayrakçı, M. (2006). Metaforik düşünme ve öğrenme yaklaşımının eğitim-öğretim açısından incelenmesi. Milli Eğitim Dergisi, 171, 100–108.
-
Arslan, P. (2020). Metaphors about the concept of school. International Journal of Leadership Studies: Theory and Practice, 3(1), 1–14.
-
Aydın, F. (2010). Ortaöğretim öğrencilerinin coğrafya kavramına ilişkin sahip oldukları metaforlar. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 10(3), 1293–1322. https://doi.org/10.12738/estp.2010.3.0302.
-
Berk, N. A., Gültekin, F. & Çençen, N. (2015). The metaphors of social studies candidate about social studies course and social studies teachers. Ahi Evran University Kırşehir Faculty of Education Journal (KEFAD) 16(1), 183-19.
-
Cameron, L. (2003). Metaphor in educational discourse. Continuum.
-
Çoğaltay, N., & Sevgi, M. (2023). University Students' metaphorical perceptions of the single-sex education model. The Journal of Siirt University Institute of Social Sciences, 11(1), 61–80.
-
Coşkun, M. (2010). Metaphors (mental images) of high school students about “climate” concept. Turkish Studies, 5(3), 919–940. https://doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.1625
-
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Sage.
-
Dayı, E., Açıkgöz, G., & Elçi, A. N. (2020). Metaphorical perceptions of preservice teachers of fine arts education towards students with special needs (the case of Gazi University). Ankara University Faculty of Educational Sciences Journal of Special Education, 21(1), 95–122. https://doi.org/10.21565/ozelegitimdergisi.501132
-
Demirbilek, N. (2021). Metaphoric perceptions of university students on distance education. E-Uluslararası Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi, 12(1), 1–15.
-
Doğan, D. (2014). Analysis of the School Concept through the Perspectives of Candidate Teachers via Metaphors. Journal of Theoretical Educational Sciences, 7(3), 361-382.
-
Draaisma, D. (2007). Metaphors of memory: A history of ideas about the mind (G. Koca, Trans.). Metis Press.
-
Girmen, P. (2007). The capacity of the primary students' usage of metaphors in the speaking and writting expression. [Unpublished doctoral dissertation], Anadolu University, Institute of Educational Sciences.
-
Kantekin, S. (2018). Social studies through metaphor analysis of metaphorical perceptions of teacher candidates about concepts of social studies, history and geography. [Unpublished master's thesis]. Karadeniz Technical University, Institute of Educational Sciences
-
Kartal, F., & Ergün, A. (2022). Examination of the pre-service teachers’ perceptions studying in the social studies teaching undergraduate program regarding the concept of geography via metaphor. Cumhuriyet International Journal of Education, 11(2), 392–401.
-
Koç, E. S. (2014). Sınıf öğretmeni adaylarının öğretmen ve öğretmenlik mesleği kavramlarına ilişkin metaforik algıları. İnönü Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 15(1), 51–72. https://doi.org/10.17679/iuefd.05939
-
Koç, A., & Dilmaç, B. (2020). Predictive relationships between adolescents' values and attitudes towards school and school burnout. Ereğli Faculty of Education Journal, 2(2), 175-185.
-
Kuru, E., & Kuru, O. (2019). The metaphorical perceptions of classroom teacher candidates of the concept of education technology. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Journal of Social Sciences, 16(1), 257–278. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ksusbd/issue/46174/579679
-
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. University of Chicago Press.
-
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (2005). Metaphors: Life, Meaning and Language (G. Y. Demir, Trans.). Paradigma Publications.
-
Landau, M. J., Meier, B. P., & Keefer, L. A. (2010). A metaphor-enriched social cognition. Psychological Bulletin, 136(6), 1045–1067.
-
Low, G. (1988). On teaching metaphor. Applied Linguistics, 9(2), 125–140. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/9.2.125
-
Nacey, S. L. (2019). Metaphor identification in multiple languages. John Benjamins.
-
Neyişçi, N., & Özdiyar, Ö. (2019). Metaphorical perceptions of prospective teachers about concepts of school, teacher and student. Erzincan University Journal of Education Faculty, 21(2), 50–67. https://doi.org/10.17556/erziefd.522683
-
O'Reilly, D. (2019). Metaphor and the social world. Routledge.
-
Ozevin, B., & Kaya, A. (2020). Prospective preschool teachers’ metaphors about the concept of teacher. Erzincan University Journal of Education Faculty, 22(3), 691-707. https://doi.org/10.17556/erziefd.653091
-
Örücü, D. (2014). Pre-service teachers’ metaphors towards school, school administrators and turkish education system. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 20(3), 327–358.
-
Özdemir, S., & Akkaya E. (2013). The analysis of secondary school students’ and teachers’ mental images of school and ideal school by using metaphor. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 2(2), 295-322.
Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). Sage.
-
Piquer-Píriz, A. M. (2019). Metaphor in foreign language instruction. De Gruyter.
-
Saban, A. (2008). Metaphors about School. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 55, 459–496.
-
Saban, A. (2009). Prospective teachers’ mental images about the concept of student. The Journal of Turkish Educational Sciences, 7(2), 281–326.
-
Sadık, F. (2024). Investigation of pre-service teachers'perceptions on the concept of" education" through metaphor analysis. Scientific Educational Studies, 8(2), 91-121.
-
Sarıkaya, B. (2018). Prospective Turkish teachers’ metaphoricalperceptions of theconcept “Teacher”. Türkiye Eğitim Dergisi, 3(2), 1–16.
-
Senemoğlu, N. (2005). Development, learning, and teaching: From theory to practice. Gönül Yayıncılık.
-
Turan, M., Yıldırım, E., & Tıkman, F. (2016). Metaphorical perceptions of teacher candidates regarding education and some basic concepts. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 11(4), 217–242. https://doi.org/10.12738/estp.2011.4.1071
-
Uçar, R., & Rakap, A. P. (2021). Metaphorical perceptions of pre-service teachers on class, teacher at the class and student at the class concepts. YYU Journal of Education Faculty, 18(1), 436–460. https://doi.org/10.33711/yyuefd.884059
-
Wallace, S. (2001). Guardian angels and teachers from hell: Using metaphor as a measure of schools’ experiences and expectations of General National Vocational Qualifications. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 14(6), 727–739. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518390110059875
-
Wan, Y., & Low, G. (2015). Elicited metaphor analysis in educational discourse. John Benjamins.
-
Yalçın, M., & Enginer, A. (2012). Metaphorical perceptions of the school principal in primary schools. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, 1(2), 229-256.
-
Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2006). Qualitative research methods in social sciences (6. baskı). Seçkin Yayıncılık.
-
Yılmaz, F., Göçen, S., & Yılmaz, F. (2013). Teacher candidates' perceptions of the concept of teacher: A metaphorical study. Mersin University Faculty of Education Journal, 9(1), 151–164.
-
Yob, I. M. (2003). Thinking constructively with metaphors. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 22, 127–138. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022289113443
-
Zembat, R., Tunçeli, H., & Akşin, E. (2015). A metaphor study on pre-school teacher candidates' perceptions of the concept of school administrator. Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal, 1, 446–459.
Üniversite Birinci Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Eğitim, Okul, Öğretmen ve Öğrenciye İlişkin Metaforik Algılarının İncelenmesi
Year 2025,
Volume: 6 Issue: 3, 180 - 197, 25.12.2025
Muhammet Doruk
,
Kerem Aktaş
,
Sinan Keskin
Abstract
Bu çalışmanın amacı, birinci sınıf üniversite öğrencilerinin eğitim, okul, öğretmen ve öğrenci kavramı algılarını metaforlar aracılığıyla incelemektir. Çalışmanın araştırma grubunu, Türkiye'deki bir üniversitenin Eğitim ve İlahiyat Fakülteleri'nde öğrenim gören 222 birinci sınıf öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Bu araştırmada, nitel araştırma yaklaşımı benimsenmiş olup bir olgubilim çalışmasıdır. Özellikle, üniversite öğrencilerinin eğitim, okul, öğretmen ve öğrenci kavramlarına ilişkin metaforik algıları incelenmiştir. Veriler içerik analizi yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında 736 metafor incelenmiş ve 315 farklı metafor tespit edilmiştir. Bulgular, üniversite birinci sınıf öğrencilerinin bu kavramlar için hem olumlu hem de olumsuz metaforlar ürettiğini ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca, üniversite öğrencilerinin eğitim ve öğretmenlere ilişkin algılarının okul ve öğrencilere ilişkin algılarından daha olumlu olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
Ethical Statement
Etik Beyanı:
Bu çalışma, “Yükseköğretim Kurumları
Bilimsel Araştırma ve Yayın Etiği Direktifi” kapsamında belirtilen tüm kurallara uyulmuştur. Direktifin ikinci bölümü olan “Bilimsel Araştırma ve Yayın Etiğine Aykırı Eylemler” başlığı altında belirtilen eylemlerden hiçbiri gerçekleştirilmemiştir.
Etik Kurul İzin Bilgileri
Etik değerlendirmeyi yapan kurulun adı: Hakkari Üniversitesi
Etik inceleme kararının tarihi: 02.01.2025
Etik değerlendirme belgesi numarası: 2024/246
References
-
Akgün, E. (2016). Prospective pre-school teachers’ metaphors about the concept of “child” and “pre-school teacher”. Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 16(4), 1652–1672. https://doi.org/10.17240/aibuefd.2016.16.4-5000192939
-
Altun, S. A., & Apaydın, Ç. (2013). Metaphorical perception on the concept of “education” of prospective girls and men teachers. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Yönetimi, 19(3), 329–354.
-
Arslan, M., & Bayrakçı, M. (2006). Metaforik düşünme ve öğrenme yaklaşımının eğitim-öğretim açısından incelenmesi. Milli Eğitim Dergisi, 171, 100–108.
-
Arslan, P. (2020). Metaphors about the concept of school. International Journal of Leadership Studies: Theory and Practice, 3(1), 1–14.
-
Aydın, F. (2010). Ortaöğretim öğrencilerinin coğrafya kavramına ilişkin sahip oldukları metaforlar. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 10(3), 1293–1322. https://doi.org/10.12738/estp.2010.3.0302.
-
Berk, N. A., Gültekin, F. & Çençen, N. (2015). The metaphors of social studies candidate about social studies course and social studies teachers. Ahi Evran University Kırşehir Faculty of Education Journal (KEFAD) 16(1), 183-19.
-
Cameron, L. (2003). Metaphor in educational discourse. Continuum.
-
Çoğaltay, N., & Sevgi, M. (2023). University Students' metaphorical perceptions of the single-sex education model. The Journal of Siirt University Institute of Social Sciences, 11(1), 61–80.
-
Coşkun, M. (2010). Metaphors (mental images) of high school students about “climate” concept. Turkish Studies, 5(3), 919–940. https://doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.1625
-
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Sage.
-
Dayı, E., Açıkgöz, G., & Elçi, A. N. (2020). Metaphorical perceptions of preservice teachers of fine arts education towards students with special needs (the case of Gazi University). Ankara University Faculty of Educational Sciences Journal of Special Education, 21(1), 95–122. https://doi.org/10.21565/ozelegitimdergisi.501132
-
Demirbilek, N. (2021). Metaphoric perceptions of university students on distance education. E-Uluslararası Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi, 12(1), 1–15.
-
Doğan, D. (2014). Analysis of the School Concept through the Perspectives of Candidate Teachers via Metaphors. Journal of Theoretical Educational Sciences, 7(3), 361-382.
-
Draaisma, D. (2007). Metaphors of memory: A history of ideas about the mind (G. Koca, Trans.). Metis Press.
-
Girmen, P. (2007). The capacity of the primary students' usage of metaphors in the speaking and writting expression. [Unpublished doctoral dissertation], Anadolu University, Institute of Educational Sciences.
-
Kantekin, S. (2018). Social studies through metaphor analysis of metaphorical perceptions of teacher candidates about concepts of social studies, history and geography. [Unpublished master's thesis]. Karadeniz Technical University, Institute of Educational Sciences
-
Kartal, F., & Ergün, A. (2022). Examination of the pre-service teachers’ perceptions studying in the social studies teaching undergraduate program regarding the concept of geography via metaphor. Cumhuriyet International Journal of Education, 11(2), 392–401.
-
Koç, E. S. (2014). Sınıf öğretmeni adaylarının öğretmen ve öğretmenlik mesleği kavramlarına ilişkin metaforik algıları. İnönü Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 15(1), 51–72. https://doi.org/10.17679/iuefd.05939
-
Koç, A., & Dilmaç, B. (2020). Predictive relationships between adolescents' values and attitudes towards school and school burnout. Ereğli Faculty of Education Journal, 2(2), 175-185.
-
Kuru, E., & Kuru, O. (2019). The metaphorical perceptions of classroom teacher candidates of the concept of education technology. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Journal of Social Sciences, 16(1), 257–278. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ksusbd/issue/46174/579679
-
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. University of Chicago Press.
-
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (2005). Metaphors: Life, Meaning and Language (G. Y. Demir, Trans.). Paradigma Publications.
-
Landau, M. J., Meier, B. P., & Keefer, L. A. (2010). A metaphor-enriched social cognition. Psychological Bulletin, 136(6), 1045–1067.
-
Low, G. (1988). On teaching metaphor. Applied Linguistics, 9(2), 125–140. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/9.2.125
-
Nacey, S. L. (2019). Metaphor identification in multiple languages. John Benjamins.
-
Neyişçi, N., & Özdiyar, Ö. (2019). Metaphorical perceptions of prospective teachers about concepts of school, teacher and student. Erzincan University Journal of Education Faculty, 21(2), 50–67. https://doi.org/10.17556/erziefd.522683
-
O'Reilly, D. (2019). Metaphor and the social world. Routledge.
-
Ozevin, B., & Kaya, A. (2020). Prospective preschool teachers’ metaphors about the concept of teacher. Erzincan University Journal of Education Faculty, 22(3), 691-707. https://doi.org/10.17556/erziefd.653091
-
Örücü, D. (2014). Pre-service teachers’ metaphors towards school, school administrators and turkish education system. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 20(3), 327–358.
-
Özdemir, S., & Akkaya E. (2013). The analysis of secondary school students’ and teachers’ mental images of school and ideal school by using metaphor. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 2(2), 295-322.
Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). Sage.
-
Piquer-Píriz, A. M. (2019). Metaphor in foreign language instruction. De Gruyter.
-
Saban, A. (2008). Metaphors about School. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 55, 459–496.
-
Saban, A. (2009). Prospective teachers’ mental images about the concept of student. The Journal of Turkish Educational Sciences, 7(2), 281–326.
-
Sadık, F. (2024). Investigation of pre-service teachers'perceptions on the concept of" education" through metaphor analysis. Scientific Educational Studies, 8(2), 91-121.
-
Sarıkaya, B. (2018). Prospective Turkish teachers’ metaphoricalperceptions of theconcept “Teacher”. Türkiye Eğitim Dergisi, 3(2), 1–16.
-
Senemoğlu, N. (2005). Development, learning, and teaching: From theory to practice. Gönül Yayıncılık.
-
Turan, M., Yıldırım, E., & Tıkman, F. (2016). Metaphorical perceptions of teacher candidates regarding education and some basic concepts. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 11(4), 217–242. https://doi.org/10.12738/estp.2011.4.1071
-
Uçar, R., & Rakap, A. P. (2021). Metaphorical perceptions of pre-service teachers on class, teacher at the class and student at the class concepts. YYU Journal of Education Faculty, 18(1), 436–460. https://doi.org/10.33711/yyuefd.884059
-
Wallace, S. (2001). Guardian angels and teachers from hell: Using metaphor as a measure of schools’ experiences and expectations of General National Vocational Qualifications. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 14(6), 727–739. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518390110059875
-
Wan, Y., & Low, G. (2015). Elicited metaphor analysis in educational discourse. John Benjamins.
-
Yalçın, M., & Enginer, A. (2012). Metaphorical perceptions of the school principal in primary schools. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, 1(2), 229-256.
-
Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2006). Qualitative research methods in social sciences (6. baskı). Seçkin Yayıncılık.
-
Yılmaz, F., Göçen, S., & Yılmaz, F. (2013). Teacher candidates' perceptions of the concept of teacher: A metaphorical study. Mersin University Faculty of Education Journal, 9(1), 151–164.
-
Yob, I. M. (2003). Thinking constructively with metaphors. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 22, 127–138. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022289113443
-
Zembat, R., Tunçeli, H., & Akşin, E. (2015). A metaphor study on pre-school teacher candidates' perceptions of the concept of school administrator. Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal, 1, 446–459.