Abstract:

One of the most important factors before and during the learning process is motivation. In order to improve motivation positively, it is thought that it should be measured first. Thus, in this paper, it is aimed to measure the motivation levels of secondary school students towards learning geography. The focus group of the research consists of 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students studying in a public school in the district of Nevşehir-Avanos in the academic year 2018-2019. There are a total of 169 students in focus group, 98 of 169 are girls and 71 of 169 are boys. In the study, quantitative research model, descriptive research method and Geography Learning Motivation Scale were used. This scale is a 5-item Likert type questionnaire consisting of 22 questions. Data analysis was conducted by independent samples t-test in SPSS program by considering various variables (such as percentage, frequency and gender differences). As a result of the analysis of the data, it is seen that there is no significant difference in following preferences; books on geography are preferred when choosing books, it is desired to exchange information about geography among friends, it is desired to take the highest degree in geography lesson exam, it is desired to be able to solve all questions in geography lesson book, and it is desired to answer questions that no one knows in geography lesson. There is an exceptional preference in choosing books, male students are more likely to choose books in geography. In other questions, the majority of female students constitute. This may be because the number of female students is higher than the number of male students. According to the answers given by the male and female students, there is no significant difference between the substances. As a result, students gave negative answers to questions indicating their interest in geography learning and to give positive answers to questions about performance. It is determined that students' motivation to learn geography is not to be interested in this course, to provide self-development or to be able to use in daily life. Their motivation is mostly about to be successful in this course and to take good degrees.

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