Formal and informal support networks for students preparing for high school transfer exam

The aim of this study is to determine the lesson related formal and psychological or other issues informal support relationships of the 8th grade students preparing for the high school entrance examination in Batman. The study in the screening model was carried out with a mixed research method in which qualitative and social network analysis methods were used together. In this study, 10 teachers and 58 students were interviewed using "Teacher Question Form" and "Student Questionnaire" developed by the researcher as a measurement tool in the research. In the qualitative part of the research, content analysis of interviews made with teachers and students was made. In the social network analysis part of the study, 58 students were interviewed and the data obtained were analyzed in UCINET 6.0 program and the density, structural holes, centralization measures were calculated and visualized with network diagrams. According to the results of the research, all students think that they are supported by their parents, teachers or peers. In addition, peer support network was established by determining which peers the students received support from. In peer support network, 1 actor has been isolated and 45% of the relationship to be established in the network according to density analysis calculations has been established. Accordingly, students have a clear relationship structure that is not very strict in themselves. In addition, two types of networks have been identified for the reason for the formation of a peer support network. The first of these is the relationship of working together and the second is the relationship of having fun together. Based on the centralization of the networks, it was observed that the students who played a central role were different in each network. As a result, there were significant differences between types and levels of support according to the positions of students in the network (central actor, efficiency level and inter-state status).