Evaluation of answers to main idea questions in the context of reader-response theory

This study was conducted to evaluate the answers given to the main idea questions in the context of reader reactions. The case study method was used in the research and the study was conducted with seventh grade students and Turkish teachers. Narrative and informative texts, observation and interview forms were used as data collection tools. Content analysis and descriptive analysis were used to analyze the data. The answers given by the students to the questions about the texts they read and the main idea questions were evaluated and it was found that the answers given by the students to the main idea questions were consistent with their own backgrounds and experiences. It was concluded that the experiences of the students associated with the texts had an effect on their finding and expressing the main idea. It was observed that the answers given to the main idea questions varied for students and teachers, and that both groups of participants could not gather around the same main idea with their answers to the texts. When the research findings were analyzed, it was seen that the answers given by the students to the main idea questions of three narrative and two informative texts differed independently of the text type. Based on the teachers' opinions, it was concluded that the students could not gather around a single main idea in the text they read and that the text type alone did not have an effect on finding the main idea.