The security perceptions of university students in Ankara: A study within the framework of social identity theory

This thesis aims to explore the security perceptions of university students through the lens of Social Identity Theory. Universities are utilized as institutions that provide fertile ground for fostering intense interactions among peers from diverse backgrounds, encompassing various socio-economic statuses, genders, ethnicities, and religious identities. In this way, the question of whether mere group membership—without a shared history, tradition, or goal—can create a minimal group paradigm that could facilitate the formation of a social identity with similar security perceptions can be answered. This qualitative research was conducted through survey questions administered to students from a selected group of universities in Ankara, namely Middle East Technical University, İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University, TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Ankara University, and Hacı Bayram Veli University. The purpose here is to enrich the discourse at the intersection of gender, national, and urban identities, alongside security perceptions among university students. The primary findings confirm the general argument that identities and security perceptions are intricately linked and evolve dynamically. However, macro-level security concerns often overshadow the formation of smaller group identities, such as those developed within university settings. Keywords: Social Identity Theory, Minimal Group Paradigm, University Students, Security Perceptions, Ankara.