The Views of third, forth and fifth grade primary school students on friendship and the factors influence on their choice of friends

ABSTRACT THE VIEWS OF THIRD, FORTH AND FIFTH GRADE PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ON FRIENDSHIP AND THE FACTORS INFLUENCE ON THEIR CHOICE OF FRIENDS Rezzan GÖN DO?DU M.A. Thesis, Department of Education Sciences Supervisior : Asst. Prof. Meral Atıcı February - 2003, 145 Pages The aim of this study is to reveal the views of third, forth and fifth grade primary school students on friendship and the influence their choice of friends. This study was carried out in the center of Niğde province, with 355 students from 3 different primary schools representing lower, middle and upper socio- economical classes. Data was collected through a questionnaire prepared by the researher. In the study, students' answers especially to the open-ended questions were analysed using content analysis method. Percentages and frequency values were calculated for the themes revealed by this analysis, according to school, gender and grade seperately Afterwards, these percentages and frequency values were examined for the relations between them. Consequently, it was seen that children had described "the friend" as the good, the honest and the hard-working one. Boys and girls considered similar features when describing "the friend". However, there were some differences between the grades: Students from higher grades mentioned further features when describing "the friend". The factors that influence children's choice of friends were examined, and it was found out that they are more eager to choose the ones who are of the same gender withthem. Half of the students stated that being of the same age is important in choosing friends, while the other half stated that it is not quite important. Another result was that parents and teachers influence the children on choosing friends. The features which teachers and parents both want children to consider when choosing a friend were the same: being good, being honest, being hard-working, and not being bad. Keywords: Friend, Friendship. JUU -j»m>« tm/ m ran -m ir, i il»vj» ?. xi