MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING

Kamil Arif Kırkıç; Osman Söner

doi:10.55020/iojpe.1838363

MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING

Abstract

The career-related curiosity of elementary school students before transitioning to high school may substantially affect their emotional and psychological well-being. Research skills developed during this period can fulfill curiosity and enhance overall well-being. This study investigated how research skills mediate the relationship between career-related curiosity and the emotional-psychological well-being of elementary school students. This study was conducted using a quantitative correlational research design to examine the relationships between career curiosity, research skills, and emotional psychological well-being among elementary school students. The sample consisted of 286 students aged 9 to 14 from a district in Istanbul, Türkiye. Data were gathered using the Personal Information Form, the Stirling Children’s Emotional-Psychological Well-being Scale, and the Career Development Scale for Children. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were used to inform structural equation modeling, which was used to evaluate the proposed mediation model. The results indicated that career-related curiosity (independent variable) directly influenced emotional-psychological well-being (dependent variable), with an indirect effect fully mediated by research skills (mediator variable). However, when research skills were included in the model, this direct effect became statistically no significant, demonstrating a full mediation effect. In other words, research skills entirely mediated the relationship between career-related curiosity and emotional psychological well-being. The study's findings are analyzed in the context of current literature, with suggestions for educational practices and implications for school counselling and career guidance.

Keywords

Career curiosity, research skills, well-being, primary school student.

Supporting Institution

No funding was received from any individual or institution for this research.

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of ethical research and the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim Üniversitesi Ethics Committee (Approval Date: 28/07/2023, Decision No: 2023/07). In addition, the necessary permissions to conduct the study in schools were obtained from the relevant educational authorities affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. Since all participants were under the age of 16, written informed consent was obtained from their parents or legal guardians, and voluntary assent was obtained from the students themselves. Participants were informed about the purpose of the study and their right to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. All collected data were kept confidential, anonymized during analysis, and used solely for scientific research purposes in accordance with data protection and privacy regulations. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Primary Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Kamil Arif Kırkıç ^*
0000-0002-8902-437X
Türkiye

Osman Söner
0000-0001-9741-5357
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

December 8, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 28, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1838363

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA46MR32AN

APA

Kırkıç, K. A., & Söner, O. (2026). MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING. International Online Journal of Primary Education, 15(2), 137-153. https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1838363

AMA

1.Kırkıç KA, Söner O. MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING. Int. Online J. Prim. Educ. 2026;15(2):137-153. doi:10.55020/iojpe.1838363

Chicago

Kırkıç, Kamil Arif, and Osman Söner. 2026. “MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING”. International Online Journal of Primary Education 15 (2): 137-53. https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1838363.

EndNote

Kırkıç KA, Söner O (June 1, 2026) MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING. International Online Journal of Primary Education 15 2 137–153.

IEEE

[1]K. A. Kırkıç and O. Söner, “MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING”, Int. Online J. Prim. Educ., vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 137–153, June 2026, doi: 10.55020/iojpe.1838363.

ISNAD

Kırkıç, Kamil Arif - Söner, Osman. “MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING”. International Online Journal of Primary Education 15/2 (June 1, 2026): 137-153. https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1838363.

JAMA

1.Kırkıç KA, Söner O. MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING. Int. Online J. Prim. Educ. 2026;15:137–153.

MLA

Kırkıç, Kamil Arif, and Osman Söner. “MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING”. International Online Journal of Primary Education, vol. 15, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 137-53, doi:10.55020/iojpe.1838363.

Vancouver

1.Kamil Arif Kırkıç, Osman Söner. MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING. Int. Online J. Prim. Educ. 2026 Jun. 1;15(2):137-53. doi:10.55020/iojpe.1838363

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(Counter start: February 28, 2021)

MEDIATING ROLE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' RESEARCH SKILLS BETWEEN CAREER CURIOSITY AND WELL BEING

Abstract

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ethical Statement

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

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