The study of 7th grade students' gain values situations in social studies course

The purpose of this study is to determine how much 7th grade students gained values in social studies course and the factors affecting levels of gain values. Thus, of the converging parallel pattern mixed methods design, which is a method collecting quantitative and qualitative data was used to collect data. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected simultaneously was adopted; data were analyzed separately, and then the data was associated with combining the two data types. In the Research's the quantitative dimension; at the end of 2012-2013 academic year, the Social Studies Education of Values Scale (SSEVS) developed by Beldağ (2012) was administered 462 7th grade students to determine what levels 7th grade students gained the values in social studies course. In the qualitative dimension of the study, 18 social studies teachers were had semi-structured interviews about the level of values which 7th grade students gained, and the factors affecting the level of values gained. In this study, the following conclusions were reached: • The arithmetic average of total score of 7th grade students from SSEVS applied to them is 134.10; the average percentage gain level is 76.72%. These values indicate the levels of gaining values of students are not low, and that is partly sufficient. Most of social studies teachers interviewed stated the levels of gaining values of students are insufficient and partially sufficient. When teachers' opinions and the results of SSEVS applied to7th grade students were campared with each other, it was concluded that the levels of gaining values of 7th grade students are not insufficient as the teachers' claims. • In the scale applied to the students in the 7th grade students, it was concluded that in all values according to gender; According to the monthly income of the family status variables there were significant differences among peace, fairness, respect for diversity, integrity; According to the father's educational level variable, there were significant differences among peace, fairness, science, respect for diversity; according to the First semester social studies' success status, there were significant differences among peace, fairness, respect for diversity, integrity, science, patriotism; According to the mother's educational level variables there was only scientific value. The teachers of social studies stated that all other variables (family income, the education level of mother and father, the grade of social studies) except gender of the scale applied to 7th grade students affected the students' value of winning levels. In the process of appreciation, teachers emphasized the factors which are considered to be effective outside of schools more than those that are considered to be effective in schools. • According to the scale applied to students, the lowest percentage as aesthetics (69.5%) and patriotism (70.8%) ; the highest percentage as the peace (82.84%) and fairness (81.7%) were reached respectively as the conclusions of acquisition levels over values of social studies among 7th grade of those. The social studies teachers stated that the hardest-earned values can be interpreted as being fair and respect to diversity while the easiest values can be said as the patriotism and being scientific. It was concluded that the easy and hard-earned values that were indicated by teachers and the data obtained from the scale were found as incompatible. • During the process of acquiring the values in the lessons of Social Studies over 7th grade students, teachers faced the problems caused by students and the family more. In addition to those, the problems arising from the education system and environment can be seen. Teachers emphasized a small number of problems caused by them. • The teachers made recommendations for the solutions of the problems that are seen in the process of acquiring the values in Social Studies lessons over 7th grade students devoted to Ministry of Education, parents, the politic understanding of the state, teachers, school management and environment.