QUALITATIVE SURVEY OF PERCEPTION OF 9TH GRADERS WHO EXPERIENCED AN EARTHQUAKE TOWARDS THE CONCEPT “EARTHQUAKE”

This study is carried out to determine the metaphors of 9th graders they have towards the concept "earthquake". 194 9th graders in Erci , Van took part in the study in the academic year of 2012-2013. The data of the study is collected by students' completing the sentence "earthquake is like …, because …." and from the pictures and caricatures drawn by the students about their metaphors for the concept earthquake. The data is analyzed with content analysis method. According to the results of the study, the students produced 72 metaphors about the concept of "earthquake". These metaphors were categorized into 6 different conceptual groups according to their common features. As a result of the study, it was revealed that 5.04% of the students perceive the concept of "earthquake" as doomsday, 4.32% as fear, 3.60% as monster and cradle and 2.88% as death and disaster.