Prospective Social Studies Teachers' Attitudes Towards Oral History Studies

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the prospective social studies teachers' attitudes towards oral history studies according to different variables. A total of 585 prospective teachers studying in the Social Studies Departments of Kastamonu, Bülent Ecevit, and Gazi Universities participated in the study. Results revealed that participants' attitudes did not vary significantly according to the variables such as gender; grade level; studies that participants carried out during their undergraduate education; the place they live; the number of historical novels, stories, and memories they read; and daily-spare time for media instruments (TV, Internet, radio, newspaper) for oral history studies before they started their undergraduate education. However, participants' attitudes varied significantly according to variables such as family members' gaining information related to past events, the frequency of oral history studies which were done during their undergraduate education, and the level of participants' curiosity about oral history studies.