An Examination of The Problem Solving Skills of The Students In Orphanages in Terms of Different Variables (The case of Kirsehir province)

The present study aims to identify the problem solving skills of the students in orphanages and to examine whether they differ according to the independent variables obtained from personal variables. A total of 71 students – 32 female and 34 male – voluntarily participated in the study and they were randomly selected from among the students living in orphanages. In the study, “Personal Information Form” and “Problem Solving Inventory (PSI)” were employed as the data collection instruments (Heppner and Peterson, 1982:66; Sahin et al. 1993: 379). In this study, the reliability coefficient, percentage and frequency values for statistical data were calculated and a t-test and U-testi was performed to determine the difference between the values. The findings revealed a significant difference between the variables of having an alive or dead father and doing sports for the students living in orphanages (p<0.05).As a result; it is determined that problem solving ability of students who stay in orphanages is negatively affected by their fathers being dead. It is detected that playing active sports has a positive impact on problem solving ability.it is also detected that gender,their mothers being alive or dead,and their relation with their other family members do not effect their problem solving skills.