The relationship between citizenship knowledge levels in secondary school and democratic behavior training at school

This study aimed to reveal the relationship between middle school students' citizenship knowledge levels and their democratic behavior tendencies at school. The relational screening model, a type of quantitative research design, was used in the study. The sample group consisted of 302 participants selected through stratified sampling method from 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students studying in three different schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in the Zile district center of Tokat province during the spring semester of the 2024-2025 academic year. The "Civics Knowledge Scale" and "Democratic Behavior Tendency Scale" were used in the study. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, and regression analysis were used in the data analysis. At the end of the study, it was concluded that there was no significant relationship between middle school students' citizenship knowledge levels and their democratic behavior tendencies at school, except for the gender variable. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between middle school students' civics knowledge levels and the sub- dimensions of their tendency toward democratic behavior at school. Furthermore, it was concluded that middle school students' civics knowledge predicted their tendency toward democratic behavior at school on an individual level.