Abstract

The aim of this research is to determine Social Studies teacher candidates' intended uses of social networks in terms of various variables. The research was carried out by using screening model of quantitative research methods. In the study, "The Social Network Intended Use Scale" was used as a data collection tool. As a result of the research, it was observed that students used social networks mostly for research, maintaining communication and communicating and following these, they used social networks for collaboration, entertainment, content sharing and starting communication.  In the sub-dimensions of cooperation, starting communication and content sharing of students' intended uses of the social network, a significant difference in favor of male students was observed. It was observed that there was a significant difference only in the dimensions of entertainment from students' intended uses of a social network according to grade level. When analyzing the sub-dimensions of cooperation, starting communication, communicating and entertainment in terms of frequency of students' internet use, it was observed that there was a significant difference between groups in favor of students who used the internet more often. In the sub-dimensions of cooperation, starting communication, content sharing, and entertainment in terms of the frequency of social network use of the students who participated in the research, a significant difference was observed in favor of the students who used social network more often. Also, it was observed that the students who connected to the internet via mobile connections used social networks more in the sub-dimensions of collaboration, maintaining communication and content sharing.

Key words: Social network, teacher candidate, social studies.