The Metaphoric Perceptions of Teacher Candidates and Faculty Members towards “University” Concept

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine teacher candidates and faculty members’ perceptions of university by means of metaphors. This research is a descriptive research to analyze and identify the current situation. The sample of the study consists of 35 faculty members and 259 teacher candidates attending five different departments of Faculty of Education, Eskişehir Osmangazi University in the 2010-2011 academic years. The data were collected by a number of open-ended questions. To determine the perceptions of university, faculty members and teacher candidates were asked to produce concepts of metaphor. The data were collected, analyzed and interpreted by using content analysis technique. According to the findings, participants produced both positive and negative metaphors on the concept of university. As a result, the perceptions of teacher candidates are concentrated in the categories of university as a negative element category and university as a multiculturalism and diversity space, therefore faculty members are concentrated in university as a comprehensive place and a anti-social element.