NEW ERA INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY SOCIAL RESEARCHES

MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING COMPETENCY OF TURKISH COUNSELORS BASED ON DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES

Nizamettin KOÇ, Marie KRASKA — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This study reports the multicultural counseling competency of Turkish counselors based on based on their a) gender, b) ethnicity, c) religion, d) years of experience in counseling, e) age and counselors' level of interaction with clients from culturally diverse backgrounds. The Multicultural Counseling Inventory was translated into Turkish and adapted to demographics of Türkiye’s population since the sample of the study was Turkish counselors. 97 counselors who at least have a bachelor degree or more from a Turkish counseling program and also currently work in private practice, in the K-12 school systems and in universities in Türkiye participated the study. The findings of the study showed that counselors have different multicultural counseling competency scores in terms of various demographic variables. The different scores were especially apparent in the years of experience which indicated that experience in the counseling field enhances the multicultural counseling competency of counselors. Moreover, the results revealed a statistically significant correlation between the extent of contact with culturally diverse clients and the participants' overall MCI scores. Additionally, the study demonstrated that counselors improve their multicultural counseling skills by working with clients from different cultural backgrounds. As a result, counselors are encouraged to engage with more culturally diverse clients and remain attentive, empathetic, and open-minded when providing services to enhance the quality of their counseling practice.

DISCOVERING CONSUMER BEHAVIOR TOWARDS NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS THROUGH DATA MINING METHODS: THE CASE OF TÜRKİYE

Samet KIZILIRMAK, Timuçin BARDAK, Bülent KAYGIN, Rıfat KURT — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Non-wood forest products are plant- and animal-based products used in various industries, such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agriculture. Due to these characteristics, non-wood forest products are an indispensable component of human life. Therefore, the relationship between humans and non-wood forest products is a topic that warrants investigation. This study aims to determine whether consumer knowledge levels and attitudes toward non-wood forest products differ based on demographic characteristics (gender, age, education level, occupation, income, and marital status). The research sample consists of consumers residing in Türkiye. A survey was administered to 700 participants, and the collected data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package. Additionally, the FP-Growth algorithm, a significant data mining method, was employed to uncover associations between data sets through association rules. RapidMiner software was used to identify these association rules. The results reveal that demographic characteristics contribute to the multifaceted nature of consumer behavior. According to the FP-Growth algorithm, gender significantly influences the most preferred product. Furthermore, variations in awareness of these products were observed based on education level, marital status, and age. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights that can guide the development of marketing strategies and initiatives to increase consumer awareness.

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE SPREAD OF POLITICAL AND ETHNIC HATE SPEECH IN İVORY COAST: THE EXAMPLE OF TIKTOK

Awa KONE , Abdulhamit AVŞAR — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

With the widespread use of the Internet, social media platforms are playing an active role in social relations, with an increasing number of users and content being shared. These platforms have created a new model of social relations in almost all societies and have led to significant transformations in the qualities of traditional communication processes. However, while social media has paved the way for humanity by facilitating communication, they have also brought with them negative aspects and abuses such as hateful and xenophobic comments, cyberbullying, copyright infringement and the endangerment of privacy through the sharing of personal data. In societies like İvory Coast, which have not yet completed the process of democratic development, this can play a role in deepening political and ethnic divisions. This study analyses the role of social media in the dissemination of political and ethnic hate speech in İvory Coast. TikTok is used as an example of a platform. TikTok is one of the most popular and effective social media platforms in Côte d'Ivoire. For this purpose, a sample of 352 posts containing hate speech shared between August and December 2024 was selected and content analyses were performed using MAXQDA software. The results show that TikTok has played a role in the popularizing of political and ethnic hate speech in İvory Coast.

LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR AN AGING POPULATION: IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

Fulya ŞENAY AVCI, Rabia KÜÇÜKDAĞ, Sibel GÜMÜŞ — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The 21st century is witnessing a rapidly aging population structure on a global scale, along with the increasing life The 21st century is witnessing a rapidly aging population structure on a global scale, along with the increasing life expectancy and decreasing fertility rates. As an inevitable result of this demographic change and transformation, it creates significant deep impacts on health and social service systems. This process, shaped by the increase in longevity and decreasing fertility rates, necessitates the re-evaluation of sustainable development policies. Therefore, it is very important to effectively implement long-term services and support mechanisms to increase the quality of life of elderly individuals by preserving their independence. This study addresses strategies to develop sustainable and accessible long-term care services for the aging population and draws attention to the importance of what can be done in this regard. The study examines basic components such as institutional services for elderly care, home care, community-based supports and the integration of technological innovations. In addition, important issues such as the financial sustainability of services, training of care personnel and the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches are discussed. In addition, applicable strategies are suggested for countries with aging populations such as Türkiye. In order for long-term services to be implemented effectively, policy makers, health and social service providers and all stakeholders in society need to work in collaboration. Developing integrated and inclusive service models that are sensitive to the needs of older individuals will make the aging process healthier and more sustainable both at the individual and societal levels.

METHODOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN CULTURAL CHANGE RESEARCH: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TURKISH AND GLOBAL EXAMPLES

Gıyasettin YILDIZ — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This study conducts a systematic review of 65 qualitative research articles (2014–2024) examining cultural transformation in the context of globalization, where the growing influence of social media, artificial intelligence, and migration dynamics necessitates methodological innovation. Focusing on Turkey, the analysis highlights how historical ruptures from the Ottoman era to the present, neoliberal urban policies, Syrian refugee integration processes, and the multifaceted impacts of the climate crisis provide a rich theoretical and methodological foundation for cultural change studies. Publications employing participatory observation, in-depth interviews, discourse analysis, netnography, visual analysis, and AI-assisted qualitative methods were subjected to thematic content analysis using NVivo software. Findings are structured around four themes: (1) traditional ethnographic methods offering micro-level insights, (2) digital/netnographic techniques revealing online cultural practices, (3) visual analyses decoding symbolic and historical dimensions, and (4) AI-driven tools generating systematic insights from large datasets. The study underscores that interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical sensitivity, and multi-method integration are critical for addressing the complexity of cultural change. It concludes by proposing a conceptual and methodological framework to guide future research, emphasizing adaptive methodologies in response to rapidly evolving socio-technological landscapes.

BETWEEN DREAMS AND REALITY: TRACES OF SPATIAL MEMORY IN SANDRA CISNEROS’S THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET

Irem Sevin KORKMAZ — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This article explores textual spaces of dream and reality as spatial memories in Sandra Cisneros’s semi-autobiographical work, The House on Mango Street, in detail. Through the memories and symbols that character’s associate with the space, Cisneros allows each character to question their individual and social support ties. A space is prominent not only as a space to inhabit, but also as a vital unique device for exploring the emotional and psychological growth of the characters. Space as literary motivation in the luxury story, construction of identity and narrative techniques and symbols in that context. The permeability defined between the duality of dreams and reality allows Cisneros to take her readers along an incredible series into the inner spaces, the memoirs, of her characters. The subtle way this narrative balances the different domains allows the reader to see it with a critical eye. Cisneros is a writer whose stories are not only limited by the plot as a narrative unit, but its space between characters and humans is in a sense more important — that is why the article examines close-ups of Cisneros's characters, the revealed erosion of layers and rehearsal of meanings based on spatial elements, and the way that literature has to accommodate itself on spatial units. Also, it offers a rich viewpoint on the inner worlds of the characters belonging to the reader and the delicate structure of their search for identity.

METAPHORICAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THE CONCEPT OF INFINITY IN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS

Arzu KARACAKÖYLÜ, Nurullah ŞİMŞEK — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

In education, metaphors are not merely considered a linguistic approach but also conceptual and cognitive structures. In this context, metaphors are not just linguistic expressions but also have a dimension related to thought and understanding. Given the potential of metaphors to facilitate the comprehension of mental representations of concepts, it is anticipated that they could serve as an effective tool for understanding abstract and complex concepts such as infinity. This study aims to examine the metaphorical images of middle school students and teacher candidates regarding the concept of infinity. Metaphorical images were comparatively analyzed based on educational level and gender. For this purpose, data collected from 488 participants were evaluated. The meaningful data obtained were analyzed within the theoretical framework of conceptual metaphor theory. Participants' written responses were examined in detail in the context of the target domain, the source domain, and the relationship between these two domains. The analysis results reveal that a significant proportion of participants experienced difficulties in the metaphorical reasoning process regarding the concept of infinity. Participants predominantly generated metaphorical images in the emotional-spiritual infinity category, while they produced the least in the mathematical infinity category. Moreover, participants' tendency to explain infinity metaphorically as a potential process aligns with the historical development of the concept of infinity. In light of these findings, it is recommended that metaphorical perceptions of infinity be examined in detail across different age groups, professions, and disciplines.

THE NEGATIVE IMAGE OF ISLAM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA IN THE CONTEXT OF MUSLIMS’ MISREPRESENTATION OF ISLAM

Dilek ERMEÇ — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This study explores the negative perception of Islam not solely as a result of external factors such as media or political discourse, but also as a consequence of internal dynamics within Muslim societies. Focusing on misrepresentations rooted in religious ignorance, cultural distortions, superstitions, and gender-based discrimination, the paper argues that these internal misinterpretations significantly contribute to Islamophobia. Although the Qur’an and Sunnah emphasize universal values such as justice, compassion, equality, and morality, many Muslim communities have come to equate Islam with local customs, patriarchal norms, and irrational practices. This has led to a distorted public image of Islam as oppressive, outdated, and intolerant particularly in Western societies.

The paper advocates for a return to authentic Islamic sources, a critical and morally grounded religious education, and a conscious effort to eliminate superstitions and cultural practices wrongly associated with Islam. It concludes that accurate representation based on the core principles of Islam can promote internal reform and serve as the most effective response to rising Islamophobia.

ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION LEVELS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: A RESEARCH STUDY ON ESKİŞEHİR OSMANGAZİ UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Zeliha KAYGISIZ ERTUĞ — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

In this study, social media addiction attitudes of Department of Business Administration students and the factors affect the social media addiction are explored. The population of this research consists of all students studying at Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Department of Business in 2024-2025 academic year spring term (912 students). Although full count method aims in the study, data could have collected from 400 students and as a result of the elimination of incorrect and faulty surveys, 371questionnaires were taken into consideration. In the data collection, “Personal Inquiry Form” prepared by the researcher and “Social Media Addiction Scale - Adult Form” prepared by Şahin and Yağcı (2017) were used. In the study, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was applied for Social Media Addiction Scale - Adult Form, and then independent samples t-tests and variance analysis were conducted between the factors obtained from the EFA and demographic variables. According to the research results, significant differences were found between gender and social media usage period dimension, conflict and around neglect dimension and cognizance wish dimension; between education type and conflict and around neglect dimension; between anxiety state and social media usage period dimension and cognizance wish dimension; between class level and conflict and around neglect dimension; between order of child in family and cognizance wish dimension; between upbringing manner and conflict and around neglect dimension and between preference cause of department and social media usage period dimension in terms of social media addiction.

A STUDY ON RACIST VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION ON DIGITAL GAME PLATFORM

Sibel ÖZDEN OMUZLU, Mustafa C. SADAKAOĞLU — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

In the modern world, individuals may be subjected to racist violence and marginalization in various contexts due to their diverse identities. Especially in the United States of America (USA), after the second half of the twentieth century, marginalization and racist violence against black people became one of the priority issues to be solved. Today, however, in the most influential areas of cultural production in the US, one can find products that magnify the loss of global image caused by this de facto situation. In this respect, this study examines the construction processes of marginalization against black people in digital games, which are understood as cultural carriers. Accordingly, in the study shaped within the framework of the issue of racist violence and marginalization against black people in digital game narratives; Resident Evil 5, Grand Theft Auto, Far Cry 3, Call of Juarez, Mafia 3 and Red Dead Redemption, a total of six games were taken as a sample. These games were examined through data collection, content analysis, and comparative analysis methods, focusing on recurring character types, genre preferences, and thematic patterns within their dramatic narratives. The findings reveal that digital games have an important role in the processes of shaping gender roles, ethnic, religious or class identities, and labeling groups or individuals described as the other. Consequently, it is concluded that digital games are not only products for entertainment purposes, but also cultural texts supported by various ideological codes.

THE STATE AND THE CALIPH IN ABU’L-HASAN AL-MAWARDI’S THEORY OF THE CALIPHATE

Osman KAYHAN — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Abu'l-Hasan al-Mawardi (450/974-1058) was an important jurist and politician of the Shafi'i school who lived in the last quarter of the 4th century and the first half of the 5th century. He systematically examined the issue of political theory and state administration, which had previously been dealt with in a limited way within the framework of theology, for the first time in the history of Islamic thought as an independent subject with his work al-Ahkâmü’s-Sultâniyye. Mawardî built his political thoughts not only on a legal but also on a moral basis. Moreover, Mâverdî has detailed the relationship he established between politics and morality in his works such as Edebü’d-dünyâ ve’d-dîn, Teshîlü’n-nazar ve ta’cîlü’z-zafer and Nâsihatü’l-mülûk. Mâverdî, who has an important place in Sunni political thought, had an important role in the formation of his ideas through his ambassadorial duties between the Abbasid caliphs of the period and the regional emirs, as well as his consultancy to the caliph. In this study, Mawardi's vision of the caliphate will be discussed in the context of the state and the caliph, especially by focusing on his work al-Ahkâmü's-Sultâniyye. Mawardi's approaches to political theory were influential not only in the period in which he lived, but also in the formation of modern state structures and institutions thanks to the principles he put forward in the context of public law.