Opinions of the students of Elaziğ Science and Art enter towards Social Studies Course and their motivation level

Purpose of this study is determine the views towards Social Studies and motivation levels. Research was carried out on 4, 5, 6 and 7th grade students that continuing to Elazığ Science and Art Center in academic year of 2011-2012. In research, interview technique and motivation scale was used. In research, mixed research methods, combination of quantative and qualitative research designs, were used. Motivation scale was used for quantitative data of research, and interviewing technique was used for qualitative data. Quantitative data of research was collected by ?Social Studies Motivation Scale? developed by Gömleksiz and Kan (2012). Five-point Likert-type scale created with 23 items. Values of scale consists of three factors; KMO value is 0,893, Bartlett Test is 5,261 and Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient is 0,792. Factors are composed with "Intrinsic Motivation", ?Caring?, and "Extrinsic Motivation", respectively. Scale options are: "(5) Completely Agree", "(4) Agree", "(3) Neutral", "(2) Disagree", "(1) I strongly disagree" and scale sententes scored in form of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points towards ?I totally agree? to ?strongly disagree? options. Surveys are applied to Science and Art Center students with taking help of Social Studies teacher who is responsible for class in Center and in one course hour by researcher. Surveys distributed by researchers, and after questions answered, collected by researchers again. Data for the qualitative part of study collected by using six semi-structured open-ended questions. With regard to this subject, research assistants of Faculty of Education, Fırat University and social studies teachers of Elazığ Middle School, Gönül İhsan Tangülü Middle School and Science and Art Center were consulted. SPSS-16 statistical software was used for quantitative analysis of data and N-VIVO-8 program was used for qualitative analysis of data. Results of quantative data showed that male and female students continuing ELBİLSEM had high levels of intrinsic motivation. Extrinsic motivation of male students found higher compared to level of extrinsic motivation of female students. Caring levels extent to Social Studies differed in favor of female students significantly in terms of gender. Instrinsic motivation of students differed against to 7th grade students in terms of grade. Opinions about extrinsic motivation of students was not found to be statistically significant according to class-level variable. Opinions about caring Social Studies class of students students was not found to be statistically significant according to class-level variable. Results of qualitative data showed course carried out by Social Studies teacher with using visual aids and classroom activities have positive effect on students. At end of research, topics of Social Studies can be applied to everday life, performance duties and tasks are necessary, students have difficulties on topics related to history, examination and evaluation patterns are appropriate, students will carry out course with materials and Social and Art Center contibute positively to Social Studies course at school were observed. Increasing material use at Social Studies lessons and review of conducted examination and evaluation in Social Studies lessons is recommended. Also, it is recommended that students should be taken on more tour within the scope of social studies. Key Words: Social Studies, Gifted/talented, Skill, Science and Art Center, Intelligence