Argumentation in science education: A content analysis study

The aim of this study; The aim of this study is to examine the postgraduate theses about Argumentation applications in science education in Turkey between the years 2010-2022. As a result of the scanning carried out in YÖK National Thesis Center, 44 doctoral and 106 master's theses were reached. Theses were analyzed using the content analysis method. PhD and master's theses within the scope of the research; type, year of publication, title of the consultant, source currency and type, universities and institutes, research duration, method, design, sampling method, sample group and size, research subject, data collection tools, data analysis method, objectives and results. Codes were given to the theses in the studies and the data created as a result of the coding were transferred to an Excel program. Graphs and tables were created by calculating data percentages. As a result of the research, there are more master's theses than doctoral theses, the highest number of theses in 2019, and the highest number of advisor titles are Assoc. Dr. It has been seen that the most out-of-date and domestic sources are used in the bibliography. It is seen that most of the doctoral thesis studies were done in Gazi University, while the master's thesis studies were mostly done in Sivas Cumhuriyet University and most of the theses belonged to the Institute of Educational Sciences. In the studies, it was observed that the application period was 11 weeks or more at most, the concept of Argumentation was used the most, and it was expressed as "Argumentation Training". It was observed that the mixed method was mostly preferred in the studies. It was seen that the most used sampling method in the study was the convenient sampling method, and the study was carried out with the sample level of the secondary school (5th-8th grade). Generally, data were obtained by using scales in theses. The t-test was used the most for quantitative data analysis, and content analysis was used the most for qualitative data analysis. When the studies are evaluated according to their aims, it is seen that the contribution to academic success and critical thinking skills is examined the most in doctoral theses, while the contribution to academic success is examined the most in master's thesis studies. Looking at the results of doctoral and master's thesis studies, it was seen that it contributed the most to academic success.