Recreative in high schools social activities: A meta-synthesis study

This research aims to determine the tendencies in the field of recreational social activities and to reach general evaluations regarding these practices by examining the theses and articles dealing with the subjects related to recreational social activities in high schools in Turkey using the meta-synthesis method. Within the framework of the meta-synthesis method, the contents of 35 scientific research studies, 19 articles and 16 theses, which were published between 2008-2020 and met the inclusion criteria, were synthesized in line with the research questions. In the selection of the studies, Google Academic search engine, TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM Dergi-Park, YÖK National Thesis Center databases were used. Each of the studies was subjected to content analysis and examined in the context of the purpose, subject area, method, sample, data collection tools, applications and results obtained. The data obtained were interpreted based on frequency and shown in tables. When the studies in the research are examined by years, it has been determined that they were mostly conducted in 2018. Nineteen of the studies included in the research are articles, 15 are master's thesis and 1 is a doctoral thesis. When the data collection tools of the studies were examined, it was determined that the most open-ended questionnaire was used, and the quantitative research was major when the research designs were concerned. When the data analysis methods of the studies were examined, it was determined that the questionnaire/scale analysis method was used the most. As a result of the meta-synthesis of the research, 15 aim themes with 21 aim codes and 22 finding themes with 72 finding codes were produced. Through the studies included in this research, examining students' attitudes, achievements and behaviours in high schools' recreational social activities were the leading research objectives; on the other hand, the limitations experienced in social activities, the various contributions of social activities to the pupils' affective development and some other skill development areas, and the neglect of social activities by stakeholders such as administrators, teachers and parents were the prominent findings. With this meta-synthesis study, suggestions for practitioners and researchers who will contribute to the literature on recreational social activities are presented.