Leisure time activities of vocational high school students and the factors affecting these activities

The purpose of this study is to determine leisure time activities of vocational high school students and the factors affecting these activities.In this research, variation method has been used as research method. In this context, in this study, as quantitative data collection method, descriptive research method has been used in general screening model; and as qualitative data collection method, standardized open-ended interview has been used.The target population of the study comprises of 72 Vocational High Schools located around Bursa and 50.539 students, studying at these schools. 20 different Vocational High Schools chosen by random method and 1380 students chosen from these schools by rational method consist of the sample of the study.As data collection tool, ?Leisure Time Activities Of Students And The Factors Affecting These Activities Survey? that was developed by Tutkun, Okay (researcher) and Arısoy has been used.In order to analyze quantitative data, collected from the study, descriptive statistical methods (number, percent, average, Standard deviation) have been used. Qualitative data have been analyzed by ?descriptive analysis method?.Findings are given below;1.Vocational High School students? conducting their leisure time with some activities is on a medium-level. Students spend their free time mostly by listening to music, watching T.V, doing homework and sports; they spend their free time at least by going a course, handicrafts and playing an instrument.2.Vocational High School students? conducting their leisure time with some activities has not a meaningful difference according to the class level, accommodation unit where the parent live, parent?s educational background and mother?s occupation variables ; but has a meaningful difference according to the gender, economic conditions of the parent and father?s occupation.3.Vocational High School Students are guided to leisure time activities mostly by themselves; at least by their schools.4.In the guidance of Vocational High School Students to leisure time activities, activities being done by their parents and themselves don?t become different. Girls conduct activity mostly with their parents in accordance with boys, boys conduct activity mostly with their friends in accordance with girls; the frequency of the activity that students having middle income level conduct themseves is higher than the students having low income level; the activities conducted with their friends by the students whose mothers are high-school graduate is higher than students whose mothers are primary school graduate; students whose fathers are self-employed conduct less activities than students whose fathers are civil servant.5.The level of the benefit from school facitities for leisure time activities of Vocational High School Students is medium. Students utilize mostly school canteen and cafeteria, school garden and sports hall; they utilize football pitches and basketball courts at least.6.There is a meaninful relationship between the level of the benefit from school facitities for leisure time activities of Vocational High School Students and class level, gender, parent?s economic condition and father?s occupation.7.The reason why Vocational High School Students don?t have any activities in their free time is ?We don?t have enough time?.8.In order to organize activities for leisure time of Vocational High School Students , students want sport activities from their schools; sport activities and places to sport; to go shopping, go for a walk and go on a picnic together with their families.Key Words: Vocational High School, Free Time, Leisure Time, School, Student.