Primary School Teachers’ and Their Students’ Mental Images about the Concept of Knowledge

Abstract

This study investigated the mental images (metaphors) that primary school
teachers (n=105) and their students (n=1248) formulated to describe the concept of knowledge.
Data was collected through the participants’ completion of the prompt “Knowledge is like . . .
because . . .” by focusing on a simile. Both qualitative and quantitative procedures were utilized
to analyze the data of the study. According to the results, overall participants produced 106
valid personal metaphors about knowledge. Based on these metaphorical images, 12 conceptual
themes (categories) were identified. Significant differences were detected between teachers and
their students with regard to the 12 conceptual themes. Also, significant associations were
identified between the 12 conceptual categories and the students’ gender and class levels.