FACULTY OF SPORTS SCIENCES FEMALE ACADEMICS THROUGH THE EYES OF STUDENTS: A METAPHOR RESEARCH

Metaphors are mental constructs that underlie a person's awareness and serve as a cognitive tool for analogical framing and description of experience in order to derive meaning. This study aimed to reveal the thoughts of sports science students about female academics with the help of metaphors. The study group consisted of 144 students studying sports sciences. As a data collection tool, a metaphor form was prepared to determine the participants' perceptions of female academics. Data were analyzed using content analysis method to create categories and themes. It was observed that participants produced 53 types of metaphors. The metaphors produced were gathered under the theme of female academics in four categories: as a parent, as a guide, as professional knowledge and as a fighter. As a result, it was concluded in this study that they had a positive perspective on female academics and created metaphors that evoked positive connotations towards female academics. Female academics who can communicate well with sports science students, value their students, and earn their respect by teaching their lessons efficiently have caused students to develop positive metaphors.