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Archived Theses
Assessment of inequality of opportunity trends for children in Türkiye: 1993-2018
The study aims to analyze the inequality of opportunity trends among children in Türkiye between 1993 and 2018. Inequality of opportunity, which refers to the phenomenon when an individual's outcomes are determined by factors such as sex, ethnicity, and family characteristics that are beyond his/her control, is among the most significant challenges in the world today. It cripples the development process and hinders the demographic dividend by wasting the productive capacity, leading to inefficient resource allocation, and impairing institutions that are critical for development. Using the Human Opportunity Index methodology and six Türkiye Demographic and Health Surveys conducted every five years from 1993 to 2018, the study analyzed the inequality of opportunity trends in 18 opportunities that can grouped under basic infrastructure (5 opportunities), education (4 opportunities) and health and nutrition (9 opportunities) categories. All the opportunities are derived from the Sustainable Development Goals. The results indicate that there was a substantial improvement in the level and equality in access to the majority of opportunities. 12 out of 18 opportunities exhibited near universal level of coverage and a negligible level of inequality. The access rate to computer, internet, secondary education, full antenatal care, postnatal care, and immunization is comparatively lower. The inequality in access to these opportunities was high only for computer and internet ownership. Comprehensive interventions are still needed to ensure increased access and utilization of the opportunities with quality improvements in the basic services to eliminate inequality of opportunity. Key words: inequality of opportunity, human opportunity index, demographic dividend
Utilizing mixed methods in social capital research
The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the mixed-methods research methodology literature, which continues to develop. the main issue that shapes the course of a mixed methods research study is its design strategy, which influences the integration process of the research. As a major issue for mixed methods research methodology, integration during the interpretation phase of a mixed methods study directly affects the output of the study. With this regard, the aim of this thesis is to seek the appropriate design type for a mixed methods research on a complex social phenomenon, how mixed methods research would be beneficial to comprehend a complex social phenomenon, and to see how design strategy, integration, and interpretation processes would occur within mixed methods research. In this study, social capital concept was taken as an exemplar complex social phenomenon for the mixed methods research. The goal of the mixed methods research within this thesis is to comprehend social capital of the individuals in Turkey as completely as it can be. In the quantitative strand, nationally representative surveys that contribute to the generation of data on social capital were analysed, and data of the 2014-2015 Turkey Time Use Survey, which contains the most comprehensive questions on this subject were used. A composite index of social capital was created by conducting a factor analysis. The index involved three sub-indices, i.e. everyday sociability, social network support, and cultural sociability. The results of the quantitative research were related to the networks component of social capital. In the qualitative strand in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 individuals, 8 women and 8 men. The findings of the qualitative research involved information related to the trust and norms components of social capital, in addition to the networks component. In the last strand of the study, the two data sets were integrated by merging them using a joint display matrix. An important finding of the study is that an individual's family and social environment is very important for social capital and that this environment provides stronger tools for men than for women. As a significant outcome, we defined a new design type, i.e. complementary sequential design, to carry on a suitable integration process. On the other hand, although the purpose of this study is not to provide a questionnaire to be used in social capital research, since we find the results of our mixed methods research valuable for use in a social capital survey, a set of question recommendations that can guide a survey on social capital was presented. Key words: Mixed-methods, methodology, complementary sequential design strategy, social capital, Turkey
Environmental concerns and policies in Türkiye: Combining micro and macro perspectives
This thesis investigates the intricate relationship between environmental concerns, population dynamics, and economic development within the context of Türkiye. Through comprehensive literature reviews and empirical analyses, this study examines public attitudes, policy frameworks, and international benchmarks. Utilizing theories such as Post-Materialist Value Explanation (PMVE), Objective Problems Explanation (OPE), and Dependency Theory, the research explores demographic, socioeconomic, and ideological factors influencing environmental priorities. The study employs data from the 2018 World Values Survey (WVS) and the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) to provide a multifaceted analysis. The WVS data helps identify key demographic and socio-economic determinants of environmental concern among the Turkish population. The CCPI, on the other hand, offers a macro-level assessment of Türkiye's climate change policies in comparison to international standards climate change policy space, the climate habitus, was chosen as an assessment criterion because it provides an inclusive approach to the balanced management of the three policy areas in the thesis. In this regard, the thesis employed the CCPI as a valuable parameter for evaluating the globe, countries, and Türkiye. Logistic regression analyses, both univariate and multivariate, reveal significant determinants of environmental attitudes, including settlement size, number of children, occupational status, income level, and political orientation. The multivariate analyses of this thesis reveal that being an environmental protector (EP) is significantly associated with holding political views aligned with the left or center of the political spectrum, belonging to a higher income group, working in a professional or technical capacity, having two children, and residing in a settlement with a population above 5,000. Age, educational attainment, gender, and household size were not significant factors in the same analysis, indicating little change in an individual's level of environmental sensitivity across these variables. These results underscore the critical role of demographic science in addressing global environmental challenges and offer practical implications for policymakers. The study emphasizes the necessity for targeted strategies that consider demographic characteristics to balance environmental protection, economic development, and population dynamics, ultimately contributing to sustainable development goals.
Investigating the item nonresponse and unreporting in a panel survey by adding a sensitivity dimension
Item nonresponse and unreporting are significant challenges leading to biases, reducing the precision of estimates, and compromising the validity of inferences drawn from the data. Addressing these challenges with the relationship to research design (panel survey), the data collection modes (face-to-face vs. telephone), and sensitivity and emotional burden remains an important research problem to be solved in the field of survey methodology. The main objective of the current thesis is to investigate the effect of data collection mode on the item nonresponse and unreporting at different sensitivity levels and emotion types in a panel survey. The sub-objectives are to examine the impact of the data collection mode on the item nonresponse and unreporting according to other interview characteristics as well as respondents' some sociodemographic attributes. To reach these objectives, the individual data set of the National Crime Victimization Survey 2022 (the NCVS 2022) and the data obtained from the Expert Opinion Survey were analyzed through descriptive analyses and logistic regression models. The results reveal that the mode of data collection has significant interactions with day, season, and tenure variables as well as age, education level and employment status. However, the associations differ according to the sensitivity level and the dominant emotion of the questions. The findings of this study shed light on the importance of the mode of interview, other interview characteristics, respondent traits, and the complex interplay between these factors as well as the tradeoff between the nonresponse and measurement errors in social survey research, particularly in the context of question sensitivity and emotional burden.
Investigating the impact of socio-demographic dynamics on divorce risk in Turkey
The family, as an institution, profoundly influences the values and behaviors of individuals and serves as a channel for transferring these values across generations. Marriage is commonly the initiation of family life and is regarded as a pivotal institution within society. Conversely, divorce represents the legal dissolution of this social institution. In the face of modern values and globalization, traditional norms are being replaced, leading to alterations in family structure and an increase in divorce rates. This thesis examines the complex relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, traditional values and divorce risk in Turkey. Utilizing data from the 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey, which focuses on women aged 15-49, the study employs logistic regression models to analyze the risk of divorce and multiple correspondence analysis to explore the interplay between marital status and related characteristics. The findings reveal that a woman's employment during marriage significantly increases the risk of divorce. An increase in the age at marriage correlates with higher divorce rates, yet younger age at marriage is associated with a greater risk of divorce when controlling for other variables. Higher education levels of women are linked to increased divorce risk, though not conclusively. Early years of marriage are more susceptible to divorce, while the presence of children offers a protective effect. Forced marriages and marriages without a bride price or religious ceremony are more prone to dissolution. Extended family structure and marriages between relatives are associated with lower divorce probability. Ethnic background and place of residence also play a significant role, with Kurdish individuals and those from rural areas facing lower divorce risks. This thesis highlights the complex relationship between the decline in traditional values and rising divorce rates, suggesting that the erosion of traditionalism is not inherently negative for families but reflects a societal shift towards individual autonomy and personal fulfillment. Despite the global stagnation in divorce rates, there has been an increase in Turkey, possibly due to the unique demographic transition phase where the strengthening of women's rights in society and gender equality is not yet reflected in family relationships. The study challenges the notion that traditional values inherently safeguard marital stability in Turkey, proposing that they may instead enforce continuity in unsatisfactory marriages. The evolution of traditional values, aligned with modernization and enhanced status for women, may lead to greater marital satisfaction and potentially lower divorce rates in the future. In sum, this thesis contributes to the understanding of marital dynamics in Turkey by highlighting the multidimensional effects of sociodemographic factors and traditional values on divorce risk. It calls for a subtle interpretation of the role traditional values play in marital stability and satisfaction, taking into account the broader socio-economic and cultural transformations underway.
Identifying the consent behavior to link survey and administrative data
This thesis aims to understand the determinants of consent behavior in linking survey and administrative data, from two perspectives; one with the metadata formed using the surveys with consent questions for data linkage, namely the macro approach and the other perspective is the analysis of the General Social Survey (GSS) which is a survey with consent for data linkage, namely the micro approach. There are two main objectives; the first one is to find the significant survey characteristics to influence the consent decision and similarly, the second one is the consent asking procedures to influence the consent behavior. Given this objective, in the first stage, a systematic review is conducted to analyze and present the results of survey research that uses consent for data linkage in their survey. At this stage, there is a wide variety of surveys from different countries that constitute the data of this part. The systematic review procedures are followed to collect these data. Through systematic review statistical procedures, the study evaluates numerous factors of survey and consent design characteristics with constructed variables such as survey response rate, topic, country, year, type, mode, age of target population, sponsor, and various aspects related to the consent request process. The continuous consent rate is modeled with multiple and stepwise approaches. The second section examines consent research at the micro-survey level, using the GSS as an example. The consent rate, a binary dependent variable, is explained by binary logistic regression. The results of both perspectives indicate that respondents' trust in organizations and trust, in general, are related to their consent decisions. The other identified variables seem to have less impact on consent rates in these surveys.
The influence of COVID-19 pandemic on fertility preferences of Turkish and Polish migrants in Germany
COVID-19 pandemic is a serious multi-faceted crisis which showed its effects in various areas of life such as mental and physical health, economy, human rights, and security. These effects were felt all over the world since it was a global pandemic that reached everywhere on this planet if humans live there. Although the effects were felt throughout the world, each country and each subpopulation in a country felt these effects in their own unique way, some feeling the effects harsher than the others. In this thesis, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the fertility preferences is studied to contribute to this area of research. The data obtained from German Family Panel (pairfam) study is used to make related descriptive and multivariate analyses to measure the effect of COVID-19 crisis in different groups of the population residing in Germany. To compare the effects of COVID-19 on different groups, two migrant population is selected: Turkish and Polish migrants. These populations were compared with German native population and with each other. Four research questions were answered through analyses: "What are the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on fertility preferences in Germany?", "What are the effects of migration on COVID-19 outcomes on fertility preferences in Germany with a focus on Turkish and Polish migrant groups?", "How did the factors affecting the fertility preferences, including migration status, change between before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany?", "What factors, including migration status, were effective in changes of fertility ideals and intentions in Germany?". The results showed that these different groups of migrants have, in some cases, along with different levels of parity and different sexes, experienced the effects of COVID-19 in different ways and different magnitudes. Although mean ideal number of children has not changed overall, a substantial increase occurred for 1st generation Turkish migrants, whose high fertility norm was prevalent in the logistic regression model for the post-COVID-19 period as well. Among the 2nd generation Turkish migrants, ideal fertility higher than 2 was also more likely compared to natives. For realistic birth intentions, share of respondents with positive intentions decreased among all groups except for 1st generation Polish migrants. Migration status was not significantly associated with abandonment of high norm fertility reflected in ideals. However, abandonment of birth intentions was less likely among the 2nd generation Turkish migrants. The results are interpreted through the lens of uncertainty and terror management hypotheses.
Exploring the emigration mechanisms of nurses: A qualitative study from Türkiye
While there has been a shortage of nurses worldwide, especially in the last few decades, due to aging, epidemiological transition, and population growth, this shortage has become more evident with the COVID-19 pandemic. Developed countries, which were already importing nurses from abroad before the pandemic, have made these policies aggressive with the pandemic. While nurses in Türkiye were in an almost untouched position before the pandemic, with the pandemic, they were noticed by developed countries and started to look for a new path due to the negative factors in Türkiye. This thesis investigated the mechanisms and motivations of nurse emigration, which has emerged as a new highly skilled migration trend in Türkiye, and what manages this migration. With a qualitative research design, snowball and quota sampling strategies were used, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used as analysis method. This study concludes that the biggest migration motivation of nurses is the value mechanism, that migration is governed by neoliberalism and the occupational network, and that nurse emigration is much more common than thought.
How fertility-related trajectories of Syrian refugee women in Turkey vary over time? testing the socialization, adaptation, disruption and selection hypotheses
Millions of Syrians were compelled to seek safety in neighboring countries as the Syrian Civil War broke out in 2011, resulting in extensive violence and displacement. Among these countries, Turkey emerged as a primary destination due to its geographical proximity and relative stability, becoming home to a substantial number of Syrian refugees. As the Turkish population is now coexisting with a significant number of Syrian refugees, it is crucial to anticipate and implement necessary precautions, as their fertility patterns directly influence the country's demographic landscape. This thesis provides a comprehensive understanding of how conflict-induced migration affects women's reproductive behaviors with an emphasis on the post-migration period. Specifically, it focuses on the fertility-related trajectories of Syrian refugee women and examines the change in the post-migration period in Turkey. Thus, the thesis aims to investigate the relationship between conflict, migration and fertility; to compare fertility patterns and reproductive behaviors in pre- and post-migration periods; and to test the four major theories of immigrant fertility: socialization, adaptation, disruption and selection. The study primarily uses data from the 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey Syrian Migrant Sample (2018 TDHS-S). Descriptive analyses and multivariate regression analyses are employed to assess the various risk factors on the reproductive events of Syrian women. Ana bulgular, göç sonrası Suriyeli kadınlar arasında üreme ve doğurganlık davranışlarında önemli değişiklikler olduğunu ortaya koymakta ve göç ile çatışmanın olası etkilerine işaret etmektedir. The results indicate that while Syrian women preserve distinct practices from the pre-migration environment, they also adjust some of their reproductive behaviors to align with Turkish women indicating the presence of both socialization and adaptation hypotheses. The disruption hypothesis is also evident as Syrian refugees exhibit a pattern of delayed childbearing followed by compensatory effects.
Fertility preferences and their correlates: The role of the actual number of children (1993-2018)
There have been notable changes in Türkiye's fertility level since the proclamation of the Republic. From 5.6 children in 1923, the total fertility rate (TFR) significantly increased under pronatalist policies in mid-1950s, reaching 6-7 children. From the mid-1950s onwards, as a result of antinatalist policies, the TFR began to decline from the mid-1950s. By the 1980s, the TFR had declined to 4.3, and the downward trend continued, reaching a level below the replacement level by 2010. Disparities in the TFR by regional and socio-economic characteristics, which have persisted from the very beginning, are already in place. While some subpopulations have completed the fertility transition, others are still in the middle or late stages. Recognizing that fertility preferences affect future behavior and that fertility intention is a reliable indicator of actual behavior when measured appropriately (Westoff, 1990; Kodzi et al., 2010), the "proportion of women who do not want another child" was evaluated as an indicator of fertility preference. Data from the 1993 and 2018 Turkish Demographic and Health Surveys (TDHS) were used to examine changes within the population. The study used logistic regression analysis to determine the relationship between selected variables and fertility intentions. Seperate models were constructed according to the number of living children, based on the fact that there are different motivations for fertility preferences depending on the number of children. The findings show that the proportion of women who want no more children decreased from 73% in 1993 to 65% in 2018. Analysis showed that the determinants of the fertility intentions vary according to the the number of children women have.