Examining the perceptions of the preservice social studies teachers about media literacy

The purpose of this study is to determine whether preservice social studies teachers' perceptions of media literacy differentiate or not according to various variables by developing a scale. For this purpose, Media Literacy Perception Scale (MLPS) was developed and applied by the researcher. The research was designed in a descriptive survey model. The study group is determined by random sampling method and consisted of 1000 Social Studies Education students who are studying in 2016-17 academic year in the first, second, third and fourth grades of the determined state universities. Stratified sampling method was used in this study. While the dependent variable of the study is media literacy perceptions of the preservice social studies teacher, the dependent variables of the study are demographic characteristics (age, gender, socio-economic status, number of siblings, geographical region, etc.). One Way Anova and T-test analyzes were used to analyze and interpret the research data. According to the results of the study, it was found that the students who are studying in the Social Studies Education Department, generally have high level of perceptions about media literacy on the bases of both scale and sub-dimensions. It was found in the conducted research that, the variables such as TV watching time, internet usage period, location of the living area and the quality of the living area have a significant effect on the students' perceptions of media literacy.