Journal of Qualitative Research in Education

Causes and Problems of Horizontal Transfer between Music Programs

Didem Döğer Gündüz — 2025-07-31

In this research, it is aimed to reveal the reasons for horizontal transfer in music departments and the problems experienced in this process. Case study design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the research. The study group for the research consists of 25 students who came to Dicle University State Conservatory with a horizontal transfer. The data of the research was obtained from face-to-face interviews conducted with a semi-structured interview form. At the end of the research, it was seen that the reasons for the students to transfer were mostly due to being with their families, being from Diyarbakır, living more comfortably financially, getting a better education and being close to their hometowns. It was observed that the most common problems experienced by students were related to courses and course exemptions. In addition, it was also revealed that they encountered many problems such as bad academician attitudes, ignorance and indifference to the office of student affairs, and housing. In addition, students made some suggestions regarding the transfer process and its implementation, stating that the transfer process should be reorganised and problems should be eliminated.

Exploring Faculty Digital Competencies in the Context of Online Course Delivery: An Analysis Based on DigCompEdu

Nurhayat Kocatürk Kapucu — 2025-07-31

In the current era, the development of digital competencies among educators is of significant importance for the creation of a digital-age-compatible society and the assurance of its long-term sustainability. Given the pivotal role of higher education within innovation dissemination, the enhancement of digital competencies among academics and students may help facilitate societal digitalization via indirect impact. It is widely acknowledged that enhancing the digital competencies of academic staff represents a critical step in fostering digital transformation within higher education. The objective of this study is to examine the digital competencies of instructors in their utilization of instructional technologies in distance education. The study analyzed online courses and conducted interviews as an indicator of the digital competencies of instructors employed at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University. Data on instructors’ digital competencies and their technology usage within online courses were collected through interviews with volunteer participants using an interview form prepared based on the European Framework for Digital Competence of Educators (DigCompEdu) and course analyses using a prepared rubric. The interview data together with the course review results were found to be compatible in terms of the instructors’ digital competencies.

Investigation into the Process of Providing Speech and Language Therapy to Students with Special Needs

Duygu Büyükköse — 2025-07-31

This study aims to examine the process of providing speech and language therapy support services to students with hearing loss (HL) and Down syndrome (DS) in a special education and rehabilitation center (SERC). For this purpose, speech and language therapy support was provided to three HL and two DS students. The present research was conducted using the action research method. Various data collection techniques, such as field observation notes, reflective research diary, video and audio recordings, and documents, were used in this research. In the preparation phase of this research, field observations were carried out at the SERC. Then, in the implementation phase, the speech and language skills of the students participating in this study were evaluated, and speech and language therapies were planned and carried out for the students. Students' speech and language skills were analyzed in the evaluation and monitoring phase. The data were analyzed with a systematic analysis approach. After the data were collected, simultaneous analyses were carried out. In the light of the findings, the next step was planned. As a result of this study, it was found that speech and language therapy support made various contributions to students' speech and language development.

Analyzing the Movie “Catch Me If You Can” in Terms of Character Traits

A. Faruk LEVENT — 2025-07-31

This study aims to analyse the movie “Catch Me If You Can” in the context of character traits. This research employed a qualitative approach, with data analyzed using document analysis methods. In analyzing the film content, the main character was examined based on the character traits listed in the Index of Character Virtues. According to the findings, the main character, Frank Abagnale, exhibits positive behaviors related to the traits of perseverance, wisdom, and optimism. Conversely, his behaviors concerning humility and forgiveness were observed to be negative. Additionally, in terms of kindness, closeness, peace, honesty, he demonstrated both positive and negative behaviors. This study suggests that family structure and familial relationships play a significant role in shaping Frank Abagnale's character traits. The movie "Catch Me If You Can" can be used as a course material in "Character and Value Education," and "Positive Psychology and Spirituality" courses.

The Focal Point of Stigma and Alienation in Education: Evaluation of Professional Lives Through the Eyes of Paid Teachers

Erol AKSAKAL — 2025-07-31

The main purpose of this study is to examine the professional lives of primary and secondary school teachers who have undisguised disadvantages, within the framework of their own narratives and experiences. In other words, it reveals how the concept of alienation, used by Karl Marx as an expression of the result of economic exploitation, and the concept of Stigma, used by Goffman, emerge and intersect in the lives of paid teachers. The data for the present study were collected from paid teachers working in schools located in the Kemalpaşa district of Izmir, where the population density is high. In this study, phenomenology desin was preferred among qualitative research methods, while snowball method among purposeful sampling types was used in determining the interviewees. Structured interview questions were preferred in this study. The analysis of the obtained data was resolved by content analysis. Research findings showed that paid teachers received salaries far below those of permanent teachers, which wears them out. Their insurance was paid in half, and as a paid teacher, they were subject to stigmatization in their work areas and daily lives, and over time, alienation from their profession. This research was conducted with paid teachers working in five schools within a single district. Therefore, further research involving more schools and a larger sample size will likely yield richer data.

The Pedagogies of Precariat and Symbolic Violence in the Neoliberal Education System: A Case Study

Orbay BAŞARAN — 2025-07-31

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of neoliberal policies on the teaching profession through the lens of Bourdieu’s concept of symbolic violence and the perspective of precarity. A qualitative case study method is employed with maximum variation sampling, involving participants composed of tenured, contracted, and hourly-paid teachers from public schools as well as teachers from private schools in the Gaziemir District of İzmir Province. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and subjected to content analysis. Five major themes emerged from the findings. The theme of restriction of professional autonomy by political and administrative expectations illustrates how centralized policies and ideological expectations exclude teachers from pedagogical decision-making. The perception of audit mechanisms as symbolic violence reveals that performance-oriented, continuous supervision creates implicit pressures on teachers. Teachers’ position in decision-making processes indicates that they are reduced to passive implementers in terms of school policies and curriculum development. Inequalities in recognition and professional development highlight discriminatory practices in career advancement and professional opportunities. Lastly, the erosion of teacher authority theme demonstrates the declining respect and authority of teachers in their relationships with parents and students. The results underline the need for structural and cultural transformations to strengthen teachers’ professional standing.

Foreign Language Teaching Enjoyment: In-Service English Language Teacher Perspectives

Rabia İrem Durmuş — 2025-07-31

Emotions are essential in language learning process because they influence the quality of education. When the literature is reviewed, it is seen that most of the studies centered on negative emotions, specifically learners’ language learning anxiety, while there is limited research on emotions that teachers report experiencing during language teaching. This study aims to explore the experience of foreign language teaching enjoyment (FLTE) among teachers. The qualitative research methodology was used to gain a thorough understanding of FLTE sources. A focus group semi-structured interview was employed to receive in-depth responses from the interviewees. To ensure reliability, multiple coding rounds were conducted for intra-coder consistency, and the other researcher was recruited to ensure inter-coder consistency. Nine in-service teachers teaching at different educational stages participated in the study. As a result of the interviews, three sets of variables were listed: teacher-related, student-related, and teaching practice-related factors. The study found both common and different sources of FLTE at each stage. Based on the findings, it can be suggested that pre-service language teacher training programs and in-service professional development courses can implement strategies to enhance FLTE. Moreover, curriculum designers should consider incorporating elements of flexibility that allow for differentiation and individualization of instruction to foster FLTE.

Investigating the Appropriateness of a Course Evaluation Model: Preservice Teachers’ Flipped Learning Experience

Bengi Birgili — 2025-07-31

Parlett and Hamilton’s (1972) Illuminative Evaluation Model (IEM) was adopted to research course evaluation in flipped learning environments. An integrated data set, including teaching videos, interviews from 17 preservice teachers, and course materials, was collected and analyzed in an educational sciences course. Both quantitative and qualitative data showed that this model, within its learning milieu and instructional systems aspects, had the potential to be a suitable method for instructors to evaluate the quality of their flipped courses. These relationships between the learning milieu and instructional systems provide evidence of the complexity of evaluation. This study demonstrates how the IEM helps uncover the design of a flipped educational sciences course and offers a suitable model for flipped course evaluation. Finally, the implications of this study for general instructional design are discussed.