The impact of social studies instruction with performance arts on the achievements, attitudes of the students and their retention of knowledge

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of social studies instruction with performance arts on the achievements, attitudes and retention of knowledge of the students. The study group included 250 6th grade students attending five middle schools located in the Elazığ provincial center during the spring semester of 2015-2016 academic year. The study was conducted with 10 randomly selected classes, 5 of which were assigned as study (n = 125) and 5 were assigned as control (n = 125) groups. In the study, the mixed method, where both qualitative and quantitative research methods are combined, is used in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data. Academic achievement test, social studies course attitude scale and interview form that included open ended questions were used as data collection instruments in the study. In the quantitative dimension of the study, semi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and control group was used. In the qualitative dimension, interviews were held with teachers and students. Social studies course was instructed with performance arts in the study groups during the study, while instruction activities in the control groups were conducted based on the plan prescribed in the current curriculum. The study was conducted three hours per week for eight weeks in both groups. In the analysis of the quantitative data obtained in the study, SPSS 21 statistical software was used. In the analysis of qualitative data, N-VIVO-9 software was used. Study findings demonstrated that social studies instruction activities performed with performance arts were more successful in improving the achievements of the students when compared to the activities included in the current curriculum. Furthermore, it was determined that the students' attitudes towards the social studies course in the study groups were more favorable when compared to the students' attitudes in the control groups. Conducted interviews demonstrated the positive and negative aspects of the applications conducted in the study groups according to the participants. The data obtained from the qualitative dimension of the study were found to support the data obtained from the quantitative dimension. Keywords: Performance Arts, Social Studies, Achievement, Attitude.