'Earthquake' with metaphors through the eyes of primary, secondary and high school senior students

This study was carried out in order to determine the mental images of primary, secondary and high school senior students regarding the concept of earthquake and to reveal the similarities and differences between their grade levels. The study was designed according to the phenomenological method, one of the qualitative research methods. The research data were obtained from the state schools in Buca in Izmir in the academic year 2020/2021. Participants in the were determined using the maximum diversity and criteria sampling methods, one of the purposeful sampling methods. The research data were obtained with a structured form with open-ended questions such as "Earthquake is like / similar because ……." and analyzed with content analysis technique. 277 valid metaphors were reached from a total of 461 students. 40 different types of 82 metaphors produced by primary school senior students were collected in eight conceptual categories. 44 different kinds of 92 metaphors produced by secondary school senior students were collected in eleven categories. And also 62 different types of 103 metaphors produced by senior high school students in eleven categories. From the findings obtained, it was concluded that there are great similarities in metaphors and categories between grade levels, that all participants see the phenomenon of earthquake as an "end" and that the most produced metaphor is "Disaster". In addition, another result obtained in the research; It is the result that as the grade level of the students increases, the level of seeing the earthquake phenomenon as a natural event decreases in parallel with the education they receive. This result was thought-provoking in terms of education. In this context, suggestions for the implementation of disaster education have been developed.