Examining Life Goals and School Attendance Rates of Afghan Students Receiving Higher Education in Turkey

Abstract

This research is a descriptive study carried out to examine the relations between life goals and school attendance levels among Afghan students receiving higher education in Turkey. In total there were 198 Afghan students that participated in the study. Among which 159 were male and 39 female. All of these students were studying in 16 Turkish state universities during the academic year of 2014-2015 in the fall semester and were selected using the convenience sampling method. Life goal scales and class attendance scales were applied by the researcher to gather data throughout the research. According to the findings, no significant difference was observed among males and females in terms of life goals. However, a significant difference was found in the career sub-dimension of life goals in favor of female students. Also, no significant difference was observed in life goal levels in terms of student age. Additionally, while no noticeable difference was observed in the career and relationship sub-dimensions of life goals, a difference in body sub-dimension was identified. A difference in class attendance levels was observed in terms of the age variable. A significant difference was found when examining class attendance and life goal factors in terms of the period of stay in Turkey. While no differentiation in life goals was detected in terms of grade levels, a significant variation was identified in class attendance. According to the study results, a moderate positive relation was found between the life goals and class attendance levels in general.