SOCIAL MENTALITY AND RESEARCHER THINKERS JOURNAL (SMART JOURNAL), Year 2026 Issue Cilt 12 Sayı 4

Primary School Teachers' Opinions on the Türkiye’s New Century Education Model

Serdar İçer İhsan Topçu — 2026-08-07

EXTENDED ABSTRACT: The importance of education stems from the power of influence it creates at individual and social levels. Therefore, all countries make great efforts to improve their education systems. Within the scope of these efforts, the Turkiye Century Education Model (MEB, 2024) has been developed and begun to be implemented in our country. It is stated that the model adopts an inclusive education approach that aims to develop students' academic, cultural and moral values. In our country, innovation and reform searches in education are very common. However, this model appears to be a more determined and systematic application. Although the Ministry's abandonment of previous applications and transition to a new and different model due to reactions and demands from certain parts of the society is welcomed by some partners of the education, it may push some people to pessimism and hopelessness. Perception and attitudes play an important role in showing a positive approach to innovation, internalizing the desire to adopt, own and implement. Teachers' thoughts about the Turkiye Century Education Model will be decisive in their adoption of the model. In order for a model that is put into practice after frequent changes to be successful, the knowledge and opinions of the relevant stakeholders about the model are especially important. In the study, teachers' opinions about this model were investigated. Therefore, this study aims to reveal the effects of the Education Model based on the opinions of 15 classroom teachers working in the city center of Sivas. This study has great importance in terms of understanding the applicability and effects of the model in line with the opinions of classroom teachers. With this study, the opinions of classroom teachers about the new curriculum will be determined and the applicability and functionality of the program will be increased. The determination of issues such as the opinions of classroom teachers regarding this new education model, the difficulties and advantages in implementation, and its effects on student success are important for the future of the education system. Therefore, it is thought that this study, which is based on the perspectives of classroom teachers, will shed light on the process of change in education. In this study, a case study design based on the qualitative research method was used to evaluate the New Education Model of the Ministry of National Education by classroom teachers. In order to understand the experiences, thoughts and feelings of the participants and to provide an in-depth understanding, this study was conducted with a qualitative research method. The case study, which was selected as the study design, is seen as an appropriate way to understand the evaluations of the participants in detail. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 classroom teachers and the participants' opinions were examined in detail. Ethics committee approval was obtained for the study. The teachers were selected from different schools and from among the teachers who were involved in the implementation of the New Education Model of the Ministry of National Education, that is, experienced and have knowledge in this regard. The different demographic structure of the participants shows that the study would be more comprehensive and detailed if the participants were from different experiences and education levels. A semi-structured interview form was used as the data collection tool in the study. Descriptive analysis technique was used in the analysis of the data. The findings were classified according to themes and subthemes and codes were created. Themes, subthemes and codes were tabulated in line with the research questions and presented as findings. Interview forms were meticulously prepared and applied during the study; consistency and verifiability were ensured by testing them by different teachers. As a result of the research, group work and collaboration activities carried out in the context of the student-centered approach of the model were evaluated positively by the participating teachers. This contributes to the creation of the necessary grounds for the development of social skills. The importance of future studies to increase the effectiveness of the social and emotional development processes of the new education model is emphasized. Participants stated that materials suitable for different learning styles were provided, but they also pointed out that the use of technology should be given more importance. Participants, who emphasized the importance of student-centered learning and personalized education practices, argued that education methods should gain a more human dimension. In addition, they pointed out the training needs of teachers who touched on the effectiveness of feedback systems in this process. In addition to the strengths of the model, determining the areas that need to be developed will contribute to efforts to increase the quality of the education system (Yıldız, 2019). The New Education Model has been generally welcomed positively by teachers. Teachers stated that this model encourages a student-centered approach and thus provides the opportunity to better focus on the individual needs of students. However, some teachers also draw attention to the difficulties brought by the implementation of this model and emphasize this situation. In order for the New Education Model to be implemented effectively, the strategies that need to be developed in line with the needs of teachers will increase the quality of the education system and make significant contributions to the personal development of individuals. In this period, supporting the professional development of teachers and making educational environments more humane will be an important step in creating a healthy and effective change in education. These suggested steps can ensure the expected positive transformations in the education community and open the door to a more successful educational system in the future.

Activities for Reconciliation of Islamic Madhhabs and Their Importance: Historical Foundations, Contemporary Approaches, and Future Prospects

Abdulkadir AydoğanOsama Gado ,Ali Alaidi — 2026-08-07
Activities of rapprochement between Islamic schools of thought (taqrīb al-madhāhib) represent a strategic necessity to strengthen the unity of the Muslim Ummah, establish common ground in jurisprudential issues, and form a collective resistance against external threats. This study examines the historical formation of schools, mutual relations among imams, and the centuries-long peaceful coexistence experience of Shiite and Sunni followers with historical evidence; exposes the imperial origins of contemporary artificial divisions; and emphasizes that takfīr movements are a sectless and stateless deviation. Centered on the concept of unity, it particularly highlights the rapprochement of Islamic languages and revival of the Qur’anic alphabet as a fundamental element, while analyzing the role of rapprochement in establishing justice.

Investigating Stakeholder Views on Artificial Intelligence Expertise In Precision Agriculture

2026-08-07

This study examines stakeholder perspectives on the future role of artificial intelligence expertise in precision agriculture in Türkiye and explores young people’s awareness of this emerging profession. A mixed-methods research design was employed. In the quantitative phase, a survey was administered to a sample of 246 high school students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 at a science high school. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a farmer, an agro-technology entrepreneur, an academic working in a faculty of agriculture, and a local government agricultural advisor. In addition, a document analysis was carried out to examine precision agriculture practices in the Netherlands, the United States, and Türkiye. The findings revealed that most students aimed for careers in quantitative fields and believed that artificial intelligence could contribute significantly to the agricultural sector. However, students showed limited interest in considering agro-technology as a potential university major or career path. Stakeholder interviews emphasized that AI specialists in precision agriculture should possess an interdisciplinary background combining technical skills, agricultural knowledge, and data literacy. Farmers and entrepreneurs also noted that technological innovations are generally adopted after direct practical experience. The international comparison indicated that precision agriculture technologies are more widespread and institutionally established in the Netherlands and the United States. In Türkiye, digital agriculture practices are still developing, although the field demonstrates considerable growth potential.

Criticism of the Claim That the Prophet Moses Stuttered

Maşallah Turan Abdulselam Yusuf — 2026-08-07

One of the most frequently mentioned prophets in the Holy Qur'an is Moses, who was sent to the Children of Israel. He was a prophet who saved the Children of Israel from the severe oppression of Pharaoh, the great oppressor of the time He showed a strong will and a relentless struggle against the injustice of Kârûn, Pharaoh and Hâmân. According to both the Torah and the Qur'an, Moses had the honor of speaking directly with Allah Almighty in the valley of Tuvâ on Mount Sinai. Despite all these ascendant qualities and prophetic attributes, based on some secondary sources and historical narrations, it was claimed that Prophet Moses had a knot in his tongue that prevented him from speaking, and that is why he stuttered. It has been suggested that since he was not good at speaking and communicating, he asked Allah Almighty to make his brother Aaron his helper to overcome this defect. This claim, which has found a place among those who have shown interest in the subject in the Islamic world over time, has generally been based on the Qur'anic expression "ukde/node". According to our analytical reading of the passages that raise the issue, the interpretations made for the expression "ukde" do not match the context of the verses. In addition to this, the claim that a task such as prophethood, which is based on the principle of rescript and solid communication, is given to a person who stutters does not seem consistent. Based on Jewish sources, nor does it seem right to accept that Moses had difficulty in speaking and to assume that there was some wisdoms in this.

The Mediating Role of Marital Conflict and The Moderating Role of Gender in The Relationship Between Marital Adjustment and Attachment Styles Among Married Individuals

Eylül İpek YazıcıBehmen Çelikbaş — 2026-08-07

Marital adjustment is associated with adult attachment styles, marital conflict, and various demographic variables. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of marital conflict and the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between adult attachment styles and marital adjustment. The sample consisted of 303 married individuals aged between 22 and 65 years (M = 44.637, SD = 9.823), including 150 women and 153 men. Data were collected online through a questionnaire prepared via Google Forms. The Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Marital Conflict Scale, and Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory were utilized as data collection instruments. The obtained data were analyzed using frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, item analysis, correlation analysis, and mediator–moderator analyses conducted through Process Macro. The findings demonstrated significant negative associations between marital adjustment and marital conflict, avoidant attachment, and anxious attachment. In addition, marital conflict was found to mediate the relationship between avoidant attachment and marital adjustment, whereas gender functioned as a moderating variable in this relationship. The analysis indicated that both the direct effect of avoidant attachment and the indirect effect through marital conflict were statistically significant. Likewise, marital conflict also mediated the association between anxious attachment and marital adjustment, while gender played a moderating role. However, in this model, only the indirect effect of marital conflict was significant, whereas the direct effect of anxious attachment was not statistically significant. Furthermore, the strength of the relationship between marital conflict and marital adjustment differed across female and male participants. The findings were interpreted and discussed within the scope of the related literature.

A Comparative Analysis Of Wolfgang Borchert´s Short Stories Titled “Ekmek” and “Mutfak Saati” In Terms Of The Impact Of War On Human Lives

Özlem Fırtına Muslihiddin Muhammed Kayacı — 2026-08-07

The short story, one of the most popular genres in German literature in the post-war period, should be considered alongside the works of Wolfgang Borchert, a writer of that era. Borchert, a writer who personally experienced World War II on the front lines, was wounded and punished, but whose interest in literature never diminished and who continued to write works even while ill until his death, wrote short stories that evoke the memories of a soldier and can be perceived as documents of the war. Borchert is the strongest representative of the period in German literature known as "Rubble Literature" (Trümmerliteratur), which encompasses works written after 1945. The writers of that era truly continued to write amidst the ruins, and their voices have been heard from these ruins to the present day. It can be stated that war is the subject of various themes in most of Borchert's works. This study focuses on a comparative analysis of two of the writer's famous short stories "Ekmek" (Das Brot) and "Mutfak Saati" (Die Küchenuhr). The starting point of the comparison is the theme of war in both works. One of the primary aims of this study is to reveal the similarities and differences between these two stories, which are compared in terms of the impact of war on human lives, through textual analysis. The events and figures in both stories are examined and interpreted in relation to the characteristics of the short story genre. Since these stories have been examined individually in previous studies but have not been analyzed comparatively or in terms of the impact of war on human lives, this study also aims to contribute to the field.

A Qualitative Study on the Amount of Narcotic Substances Seized in Kocaeli Province, Türkiye, as Reflected in the National Press Between 2020 and 2025.

Aykut TosunCeylan Gazi Uçkun ,Orkun Konak — 2026-08-07

This study systematically compiles news reports on drug seizures that appeared in the local press and public opinion in Kocaeli province, Turkey, between 2020 and 2025. The types and quantities of drugs explicitly mentioned in the news texts are classified monthly and by type. The main objective of the study is to analytically reveal the pattern of drug seizures that became visible in the news between 2020 and 2025. The data from the years examined in the research show a significant shift in the structure of drug supply in Kocaeli, from traditional substances to synthetic compounds. Based on press reports, this data reveals that Kocaeli acts as a strategic "barrier" in the law enforcement's fight against supply, and that the interventions carried out here directly disrupt the supply chain to the Istanbul metropolis and the European market

The Digital Recognition Paradox in Youth: A Conceptual Evaluation of Metric Visibility from a Social Work Perspective

Murat Erkoyuncu — 2026-08-07

Digital platforms provide young people with opportunities for self-expression, peer connection, identity exploration, and engagement with social issues, while organizing visibility through measurable indicators such as likes, comments, followers, views, shares, and algorithmic prominence. From a social work perspective, the central tension lies in the fact that online visibility does not necessarily become recognition, rights-based participation, or agency. Young people may be highly visible in digital environments without being sufficiently acknowledged as rights-bearing, participating, and meaning-making subjects. The purpose of this conceptual study is to examine young people’s digital visibility through the concepts of recognition, rights-based participation, agency, metric visibility, and digital social approval. Designed as a conceptual evaluation rather than an empirical inquiry, the discussion develops the Digital Recognition Paradox Model. The model argues that visibility may become empowering when connected to relational acceptance, voice, participation, and being valued; yet it may narrow the experience of recognition when reduced to metric feedback. It enables social workers to interpret young people’s online behaviors not only as risk indicators, but also as expressions of acceptance, belonging, voice, and being valued. In this respect, digital visibility becomes linked not merely to online presence, but also to the rights-based assessment responsibility of social work. The study reframes young people’s digital experiences beyond risk, addiction, and screen-time discourses and offers an interpretive framework for social work practice, education, policy, and future research.

The Impact of Organizational Morale on Quıet Quitting (A Field Study)

Hülya UYUŞMAKHülya Uyuşmak ,Gamze Ebru Çiftçi — 2026-08-07

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between teachers’ perceptions of organizational morale and their quiet quitting behaviors in the private sector. The research was conducted using quantitative methods, and data were collected via a survey from teachers reached through convenience sampling. Analyses were conducted on 276 valid surveys; descriptive statistics, the independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation, and regression analyses were utilized in the evaluation of the data. The research findings reveal that the perception of organizational morale does not show a significant difference based on demographic variables, while quiet quitting behavior varies depending on certain demographic variables. Correlation analysis results indicate a moderate and negative relationship between organizational morale and quiet quitting; regression analysis, meanwhile, reveals that organizational morale significantly and negatively influences quiet quitting behavior. The findings suggest that an increase in employees’ perceptions of meaning, value alignment, and a sense of community in their work reduces tendencies toward quiet quitting. Accordingly, organizational morale is considered a key organizational factor in enhancing employee engagement and reducing quiet quitting behavior.