The effect of high school students’ time perspective perceptions on their cognitive flexibility and academic self-efficacy

Year 2025, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 109 - 127, 30.06.2025

İremnaz Gültekin , Onur Ağaoğlu

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the relationship between time perspectives, cognitive flexibility, and academic self-efficacy among secondary school students. The study, which was prepared using the correlational survey method from quantitative research designs, included a sample group of 300 students enrolled at Keçiören Vatansever Şehit Tümgeneral Aydoğan Aydın Science High School, Nahit Menteşe Anatolian High School, and Mamak Science and Art Centre in the districts of Keçiören and Mamak in Ankara. In addition to the form prepared to determine the demographic information of the participants, the Cognitive Flexibility Scale, Zimbardo’s Time Perspective Scale, and Academic Self-Efficacy Scale were used after obtaining the necessary permissions. According to the findings obtained as a result of the analyses, the cognitive flexibility of high school students in the “Past Positive Time”, “Present Hedonic Time” and “Future Time” perspectives positively affect their cognitive flexibility and academic self-efficacy. Furthermore, female students scored higher than male students, and students whose mothers did not work scored higher than those whose mothers worked in all time perspectives except for future time. In this context, it is recommended to develop educational programmes that enhance students’ awareness of time perspectives and support cognitive flexibility.

Keywords

Time perspective , Cognitive flexibility , Academic self-efficacy , gifted young scientist education

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