Abstract:

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the 2nd grade achievements of the 2018 Life Studies curriculum and the root values, and the perceptions of the 2nd grade primary school students towards the root values through the word association test. The study is a qualitative research in the screening model. The study group of the research consists of 17 students attending the 2nd grade in Ardeşen district of Rize province. In the study, document analysis and the Word Association Test (KIT) prepared by the researcher were used as data collection tools. The achievements in the 6 units at the 2nd grade level of the 2018 Life Studies curriculum were examined by the researchers in terms of their relations with the root values. In addition, the word association test regarding root values was applied to primary school students. Descriptive analysis techniques were used in the analysis of the data. In addition, concept network maps were prepared using the breakpoint technique. In these concept networks, the connections between the answer words produced by the students in response to the keywords were revealed. The answers given by the participants regarding the key concepts were evaluated and frequency tables were created regarding the number of repetitions of the words. Considering the number of repetitions of the words associated with the key concepts, 4 cut-off points were determined. Data for each range are illustrated and explained with concept network maps. The findings obtained in the study show that word association tests can be used as a diagnostic tool without evaluating. Word association tests can be used by educators to determine students' conceptual knowledge levels before and after the curriculum in Life Studies courses. It is hoped that this study will lead and contribute to new research on the word association test.

Keywords: