The investigation of the conflict resolution styles of university students living in Kosovo: A mixed method study

The purpose of this study is to examine conflict resolution styles among university students living in Kosovo. In line with this main purpose, the conflict resolution styles of university students are examined in the context of gender, nationality, various familial factors and introverted / extroverted personality traits. At the same time, it is also examined which issues university students encounter with whom and which conflict styles they show. The study was carried out in the sequential explanatory method pattern of the mixed method. The quantitative research phase of the study was carried out with 585 students (333 females and 252 males) studying in Anadolu University Open Education Faculty Kosovo Programs and Prizren University Turkish undergraduate programs. 18 students participated in the qualitative phase of the research (6 Turkish, 6 Albanian and 6 Bosnian students). The quantitative data of the study were obtained through Conflict Action Styles Scale and personal information questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Confirmatory factor analysis, multivariate analysis of variance and content analysis were used in the analysis of the data. When the findings of the research were examined in terms of the nationalities of the students living in Kosovo, it was revealed that Turkish students used the mediating conflict style at a higher level than Bosnian students. In addition, it was found that conflict resolution styles of university students of different nationalities in terms of gender and perceived introversion / extroversion personality traits did not differ significantly. In terms of family structure, it was determined that Bosnian students with extended families have higher levels of compelling conflict style than Albanian students. In addition, it has been found that students have more frequent conflicts with individuals in the work and family environment, and exhibit self-expression behaviors in conflict situations. Keywords: conflict, conflict resolution, conflict resolution styles, Kosovo.