Visual Perception of Gifted Students Regarding Investigation of Democracy

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine and assess the visual perceptions of gifted students at Science and Arts Centers about democracy. The study group of the research was 204 gifted students studying at Science and Arts Centers (BILSEM) at Ankara, Bartin, Kirsehir, Kastamonu, Zonguldak, Sinop and Duzce provinces in 2013-2014 academic year. The data in the study, in which survey method was used, was collected via a form which included two sections. The first section included personal information questions while the section included questions prepared in draw- and-tell technique in order to identify students' democracy perceptions. The obtained data were defined via content analysis method and a code list was formed. And then, themes that could bring the codes under certain categories were determined. And finally, the data were interpreted and sample student explanations were given. The result of the study revealed that the democracy perception of gifted students was about elections among 5th graders while it mostly changed towards democratic values in the 6th, 7th and 9th grades.