Perceptions of teachers about the curriculum: A metaphor analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine teachers' perceptions regarding the concept of curriculum through metaphor analysis. In this research, "phenomenology research design" was adopted. The participants of the research consisted of volunteering teachers (n = 261) working in ten public high schools in the province of Nigde, Turkey. The data obtained in the research were analysed through content analysis. According to the findings of the research, the teachers were seen to produce a total of 48 well-structured metaphors for curriculum concept, which were then grouped under five conceptual categories as guide, problem, system, complex structure, and need. Also, it was found that the teachers produced mostly positive metaphors about the concept of curriculum.