Abstract:

This study was carried out in order to determine how the students expressed the concepts of 'disaster' and 'population' in the geography lesson curriculum of secondary school 12th grade students, how they interpreted them and how they described them as imaginary. Qualitative research method and phenomenology pattern, which is one of the qualitative research approaches, were used in the research. The research was carried out with 296 participants studying in 10 different schools in Konya in the 2020-2021 academic year. Research data were obtained through semi-structured forms. The analysis of the data was made with content analysis. According to the findings, the participants produced 151 different metaphors for the concept of 'disaster'. These metaphors are divided into 8 categories according to their common characteristics. Participants explained the concept of 'disaster' by comparing it to an earthquake. Participants produced 149 different metaphors for the concept of 'population'. These metaphors are divided into 9 categories according to their common characteristics. The participants explained the concept of 'population' mostly by analogy to the community.

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