SOCIAL SCIENCES STUDIES JOURNAL (SSSJournal), Year 2026 Issue Cilt 12 Sayı 5

A Comprehensive Risk Assessment Method For Shopping Malls

Ufuk GülerSezgin Aygün — 2026-07-16

Shopping malls are structures that pose multidimensional risks in terms of occupational health and safety due to the high density of visitors and the simultaneous execution of many different activities. In this study, a two-step, integrable risk assessment method was developed for shopping malls and applied in a shopping mall located within the borders of Istanbul, serving approximately 50,000 visitors daily. In the first step of the proposed method, a total of 153 requirements were analyzed using a checklist-based pre-assessment approach. As a result of this evaluation, 121 requirements were classified as "yes", 4 requirements as "no" and 29 requirements as "not suitable/incomplete". In the second step, detailed risk analysis was carried out with the FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis) method only for 33 requirements determined as "no" and "not suitable/missing".Thanks to the proposed two-step approach, the risk assessment process was completed with approximately 79% fewer analysis steps compared to the detailed analysis of all requirements. This method reduces time and labor loss, allowing risks to be managed more effectively and preventive measures to be developed faster.

Assessment of Ecotourism Activities in Giresun Based on Local Community Opinions

Sena MeralMehmet Mert Paslı — 2026-07-16

Ecotourism, which adopts an environmentally sensitive and sustainable approach in contrast to the negative impacts of mass tourism, is among the preferred forms of tourism for cities distinguished by natural attractions such as Giresun. The primary aim of the research is to determine the suitability levels of ecotourism activities among the local population living in Giresun. As a result of the findings, this study is significant for providing insight into planning efforts in the field of ecotourism and contributing to the literature. A total of 508 valid surveys were analyzed using a questionnaire as the data collection technique. The participants of the research are predominantly women, single, young, students, and individuals with a bachelor's degree. According to the research results, it has been concluded that the local population in Giresun can engage in activities such as nature photography, agricultural practices, planting and cultivating plants, and fruit picking. Additionally, nature hiking and camping activities are other events that have a high acceptance rate among the public. It is anticipated that, in the future, planning by public and private tourism stakeholders for ecotourism activities deemed appropriate by local residents will contribute to the regional economy and urban tourism

Mapping the Literature on Strategic Human Resource Management and Organizational Agility: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on Web of Science

Ebru Tamas Arzu Uğurlu Kara — 2026-07-16

In today’s rapidly evolving competitive environment, organizational agility has emerged as a critical capability for businesses to respond swiftly to environmental changes. Strategic human resource management—which involves aligning human resource policies with organizational strategies—plays a pivotal role in fostering agile organizational structures. Consequently, examining these two concepts in conjunction is also significant within the academic literature. This study evaluates research on the concepts of strategic human resource management and organizational agility, aiming to create a map of studies conducted over the past five years and analyze them. The study seeks to provide a systematic summary of existing academic research using bibliometric analysis based on quantitative data, to assess the progress made in the last five years, and to identify remaining gaps in the existing studies. The reason for selecting the five-year period starting in 2020 in this study is to evaluate current research trends and new directions in the literature on SHRM and organizational agility through bibliometric analysis, and to identify existing gaps and research opportunities by analyzing recent publications. The analysis was based on bibliometric data from various types of works published between 2020 and 2025 and indexed in the Web of Science database. These data were analyzed using the VOSviewer program, yielding the following results. When examining the years associated with these concepts, it is observed that the highest activity levels occurred in 2021 (93 works) and 2025 (94 works), while the year with the fewest publications was 2026 (12 works); the authors with the highest number of works are Geert Devos, Melissa Tuyters, and Eva Vekama; the publication types are predominantly articles (484), early access (22), and book chapters (9); in terms of research areas, works were produced in management (206), ophthalmology (71), business (65), industrial relations and labor (48), applied psychology (46), environmental sciences (33), green sustainable science and technology (30), environmental studies (29), public administration (16), and interdisciplinary social sciences (14); regarding the distribution of publications by country, the leading contributors are the USA (96), China (67), and India (52). When the most frequently used keywords in publications related to these concepts are examined, the terms "strategic human resource management" (106 occurrences), "human resource management" (25 occurrences), and "organizational performance" (22 occurrences) are observed.

The Consultation Record as Anticipatory Co-production and the Epistemic Labour of Festival Curation

İsmail Erim Gülaçtı — 2026-07-16

Curatorial studies has produced substantial theorizations of the curator as cultural producer and of the curatorial as knowledge event, but it has not examined the mechanisms through which curatorial knowledge is produced in practice: the consultation, the negotiated agenda, the co-produced material commitment. This article addresses that gap by reading curatorial consultation records - annotated agendas and outcome notes - as primary evidence of a form of knowledge production it terms anticipatory co-production: knowledge that is oriented toward a material outcome that does not yet exist, produced across curatorial and artistic subject positions, prescriptive rather than documentary, and partially externalized through the consultation's own documentary apparatus. The concept is derived from the convergence of five frameworks drawn from scholarship on tacit knowledge, invisible labour, articulation work, situated action, and situated epistemology, none of which has previously been applied to curatorial practice. The empirical base consists of twenty-six consultations conducted across two rounds with thirteen artists for the sixth edition of the Istanbul Digital Art Festival (IDAF'26), read as longitudinal pairs separated by a five-week interval. Three cases - in which co-produced commitments are confirmed, spatially transformed, or structurally stalled - demonstrate that anticipatory co-production operates under variable conditions of constraint and that festival curation's bureaucratic apparatus renders legible a register of curatorial labour that other formats leave tacit.

Proofs of Surah an-Nahl and its Different Recitations

Ferit Dinçer — 2026-07-16

The Holy Quran is a miraculous book revealed by Almighty Allah in terms of wording and meaning. Its miraculousness is not only in its meaning, but also in its wording, verse, style, coherence, harmony and recitation among its verses and words. Every surah, verse, sentence, word, a single letter or even a single movement of such a book has a feature that requires care. Therefore, it is possible to say that every useful study conducted on the Quran is a manifestation of the care and feature in question. In terms of the service of the Quran, the most useful study is undoubtedly the study related to the science of recitation. Because the science of recitation is at the top of the list of Quranic sciences in terms of importance. Based on these thoughts, a modest study on the recitation of the Quran was preferred. In this study, after briefly providing information about the Surah Nahl, the recitation differences in the Surah and the proofs and reasons for preferring these disagreements will be discussed. In this context, first, concepts such as proof and its close meanings such as evidence and reason for preference will be explained in order to make the subject more understandable. Then, the different recitations in the Surah and the reasons for preferring these recitations will be explained under separate headings. However, while doing this, not all the recitations in the Surah, but a few sample recitations that will serve as examples for others will be emphasized.

Science Education in the Anthropocene: Knowledge, Responsibility, and Transformation

Ilgım Özergun Köse — 2026-07-16

This study aims to discuss, within a theoretical framework, how science education should be reconfigured in the context of the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene is defined as an epoch in which human activities significantly affect the Earth’s systems at a geological scale, with climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecological crises being its most visible manifestations. In this context, science education should not be limited to the transmission of scientific knowledge but should also foster critical thinking, scientific literacy, systems thinking, and ethical responsibility. The study highlights pedagogical approaches such as inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, transdisciplinary practices, local-global connections, and the use of digital tools as effective strategies for science education in the Anthropocene. Furthermore, challenges such as curriculum overload, teachers’ pedagogical readiness, and policy-level limitations are addressed alongside opportunities offered by the new science curriculum, international best practices, and local initiatives. In conclusion, science education in the Anthropocene must evolve into a transformative practice that equips learners not only with scientific knowledge but also with the capacity to act as responsible citizens contributing to a sustainable future.

Psycho-Social Development in the 2025 MEB English Curriculum: A Qualitative Document Analysis

Mehmet Yapıcı Onur Berkay Yapıcı — 2026-07-16

This qualitative study evaluates the 2025 English Language Curriculum (Years 2-8) of the Turkish Ministry of National Education, developed under the “Century of Türkiye Education Model,” from a psycho-social development perspective using document analysis method. The study examines how the curriculum integrates psycho-social elements such as emotional intelligence, social skills, motivation, personality, and cultural awareness. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes: (1) The place of psycho-social factors in the core approach, (2) Systematic integration of social-emotional learning skills (SELS), and (3) The psycho-social contribution of cultural and moral values. The curriculum places learners’ emotional, social, and personality characteristics at the center of its design, incorporates SELS progressively across all themes and years, and integrates national values, thereby demonstrating a holistic approach. These features align with Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory, Goleman’s emotional intelligence framework, and the CASEL model, moving away from the traditional Tyler rationale toward a constructivist vision. Strengths include age-appropriate progression and cultural identity preservation, while weaknesses involve limited concrete activity examples and insufficient teacher guidance. The study highlights the curriculum’s potential to support psycho-social development and recommends enriching activities and assessment tools, enhancing teacher training, and conducting implementation research. Ultimately, the 2025 curriculum represents a significant step toward positioning foreign language education as a transformative process.

The Predictive Role of Irrational Beliefs and Conscious Awareness of Emotion Regulation in Romantic Relationships

İsa Yücel İşgör Rümeysa Nur Tohum — 2026-07-16

This study investigated the predictive effect of irrational beliefs and emotion regulation skills on mindfulness levels in romantic relationships. The study was conducted on a total of 393 individuals aged between 17 and 60, with an average age of 34.08 (SD = 0.84). 258 participants were female (65.6%) and 135 were male (34.4%). Data were collected using the Irrational Beliefs in Romantic Relationships Scale, the Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Mindfulness in Romantic Relationships Scale. Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression analysis, independent samples t-test, and MANOVA were used to analyze the data. The findings showed that irrational beliefs in romantic relationships were a negative and significant predictor of mindfulness. Among the emotion regulation sub-dimensions, re-evaluation positively predicted mindfulness, while repression negatively predicted it. Furthermore, it was determined that irrational beliefs, repression, and re-evaluation variables together explained 23.4% of the variance in the level of mindful awareness in romantic relationships (R² = .234). Independent groups t-test results based on gender showed that mindful awareness scores in romantic relationships differed significantly in favor of men. In conclusion, it can be said that irrational beliefs and emotion regulation processes are important predictors of understanding mindful awareness in romantic relationships.

Dragon Slaying in Figurative Art

S. Bilge Karaöz Sinem Gül Uçar — 2026-07-16

The legendary dragon, which has a prominent place in miniatures, has had different symbolic meanings in different cultures: While it was used as a symbol of goodness among the Uyghurs, it represented evil in ancient Hindu mythology. In depictions of heroes battling dragons, the dragon has been a figure upon which the warrior tests and proves his strength and heroism. The aim of this study is to analyze the depictions of dragon figures in miniatures featuring scenes of dragon slaying as a symbol of heroism, which have symbolic integrity at both the formal and metaphysical levels in Turkish figurative art. Dragon figures are depicted as very powerful and frightening, with large, serpentine bodies, sharp, curved claws, sharp teeth, tongues protruding from their mouths, horns on the heads, feathers under the chins, and fiery eyes. Depicting them as creatures that lost their natural balance and that embody egoist desires is effective in directing the attention to the strength and heroism of the warriors who slay them. This is because they serve as a visual expression of the idea of regaining divine power and rebuilding order, the transformation of darkness into light, by bringing the hero who saves order from chaos to the fore. Therefore, in the miniatures included in this study, the drawings of the dragon depictions have been created, and the functionality of their form within the color scheme and composition has been identified with the unity of meaning.

The Ontological Transformation of Architecture in the Context of Digital Culture: From Object to Process, from Representation to Performance- A Relational Model for the Analysis of Hybrid Spaces

Yağmur Karaman — 2026-07-16

The development of digital culture has initiated a profound shift in the ontological foundation of architecture, moving from an object-centered approach toward a process-oriented understanding. While modern architecture conceives space as a completed form, digital production environments redefine it as a dynamic system continuously reconfigured through data flows, algorithmic operations, and user interactions. This transformation enables space to be understood as a hybrid construct in which physical and digital components are intricately intertwined.

This article examines this transformation across architecture, art, and digital technologies through a relational model that interprets interdisciplinary interactions as fields of intensity. Rather than presenting historical developments as a linear timeline, the model conceptualizes them as nodes defined by their transformative impact. Within this framework, A-Volve (1994) is analyzed as a critical case that demonstrates how feedback mechanisms between user actions and digital processes reconfigure space into a behavioral and hybrid structure.

Ultimately, the study reveals a shift in architecture from an ontology grounded in object production toward a spatial understanding based on process, performance, and interaction.

War and Ruin in Painting: Anselm Kiefer, Paul Nash, and Otto Dix

Deniz Özeskici — 2026-07-16

Ruins, resulting from various causes, primarily wars, are structures that bear the traces of the past and contain different experiences. Artists, significantly influenced by the wars of their time and before, have reflected the traces of war in their works. In reflecting the effects of war, artists have used figures, battle scenes, weapons, war tools, ruins, and various other images. Ruins, once architectural structures where people lived, transform into structures bearing the traces of history through violence and destruction. Ruins arise in many ways, including disappearance, destruction, war, migration, abandonment, and natural events. This research examines how Anselm Kiefer, Paul Nash, and Otto Dix address the theme of war in their works, focusing on the concepts of war and ruin in painting, and exploring destruction, violence, and social memory. Kiefer, Nash, and Dix were chosen because of their selection of different battle scenes in their works and their relatively recent existence. The analysis reveals that Dix and Nash, who participated in the World Wars as soldiers, used battlefields and images depicting the devastation of nature in their works, reflecting their experience as witnesses and artists of the war. Kiefer, on the other hand, born after the war and influenced by what he witnessed around him, was not indifferent to the war, establishing a connection between war and myths, and occasionally depicting ruins in his grandiose works.

An Evaluation of the Views of Faculty of Health Sciences Students on Mobile Health and Personal Health Records

Hatice Sarıyer Nesrin Akca — 2026-07-16

The aim of this study is to evaluate the views of students in the Faculty of Health Sciences regarding mobile health and personal health records, and to determine whether these views differ according to the students’ personal and demographic characteristics. This study was conducted with 344 students selected on a voluntary basis using a stratified sampling method from six departments within the Faculty of Health Sciences at Kırıkkale University. This study is a cross-sectional, descriptive quantitative research. The study used a "personal and demographic information form" prepared by the researchers and the "Mobile Health and Personal Health Records Opinion Scale," developed by Koç and Bilgehan in 2021, consisting of 31 items and 7 sub-dimensions. Each item in the scale is a 5-point Likert type, with a minimum score of 31 and a maximum score of 155. An increase in the total score indicates that students’ attitudes toward mobile health and personal health records have improved in a positive direction. Since the data showed conformity to a normal distribution, analysis was performed using parametric tests. An independent samples t-test was used for comparisons between two groups, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for more than two groups, and the Tukey-HSD post-hoc test was used to determine which group was responsible for the difference. Results with p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. The study found that students' attitudes towards mobile health and personal health records increased positively, and their average scores on the scale total and sub-dimensions showed statistically significant differences according to various personal and demographic variables (p<0.05). This study is highly important for the future of the healthcare system as it raises awareness among students about the benefits and efficiency of mobile health and personal health records, enabling them to benefit themselves, those around them, and future healthcare professionals.

The Metaphor of Road and Journey in M. Niyazi Sepetçioğlu's Novel

Canan Ergen Eşer Selin Karacan Işık — 2026-07-16

Yunus Emre stands as one of the most distinctive representatives of the Sufi tradition transplanted into Anatolia by the Central Asian Turkish-Islamic philosophy spearheaded by Hoca Ahmet Yesevi. Believed to have lived in the Karaman and Konya regions of thirteenth-century Anatolia, this folk poet and mystic continues to be reinterpreted in both literary-historical scholarship and contemporary Turkish fiction. This study examines the metaphorical functions of the "road" and "journey" motifs in Mustafa Niyazi Sepetçioğlu's novel Benim Adım Yunus Emre (2012). The primary aim is to demonstrate that the journey depicted in the novel is not merely a geographical displacement but a multi-layered metaphor symbolizing the protagonist's inner transformation, the social realities of thirteenth-century Anatolia, and the Sufi process of spiritual maturation (seyru sülûk). Drawing on thematic analysis and Lakoff and Johnson's conceptual metaphor theory, the study explores the journey across three fundamental dimensions: individual-internal, historical-social, and Sufi-mystical. The findings reveal that Sepetçioğlu constructs the figure of "miskin Yunus" not as a purely mystical hero but as a dervish tested by human frailties and refined through those very trials. The study offers a fresh perspective on how the modern Turkish historical novel transforms classical Sufi themes and contributes to the growing body of scholarship on Yunus Emre in fiction.

The Philosophical Foundations of Health and Disease in Ibn Sînâ

Öznur Bayrak Tekin — 2026-07-16

In this study, the philosophical foundations of Ibn Sina’s concepts of health and disease are examined. By examining the philosophical dimensions of the concepts of health and disease, it is shown that Ibn Sina’s conception of medicine is grounded in natural philosophy as a systematic body of knowledge. In Ibn Sina’s thought, health and disease are explained within the framework of causality inherited from Aristotle, through the four causes: material, efficient, formal, and final causes. This approach indicates that medicine is not merely a field concerned with describing symptoms, but also a theoretical discipline that investigates the underlying causes of these symptoms. Health is conceptualized as a malaka (a stable disposition) that enables the natural functioning of the body, whereas disease is understood as a dynamic condition of disorder arising from the imbalance of temperament.

It is further emphasized that Ibn Sina conceives medicine as having a dual structure, consisting of theoretical and practical dimensions, and that this distinction reflects an epistemological organization. While theoretical medicine explains the structure and functioning of the body as well as the causes of diseases, practical medicine is concerned with the preservation of health and the treatment of illness. Ultimately, it is demonstrated that Ibn Sina’s conception of health and disease presents a holistic philosophy of medicine grounded in the principle of harmony with nature and structured by a causal framework.

Reading the Sociology of Aging from a Human Rights Perspective

İbrahim Mavi — 2026-07-16

This study aims to re-examine old age not as a "problematic stage of life," but as a rights-based civic issue. In today’s world, the rapid increase in the elderly population has transformed aging from a purely demographic shift into a multidimensional phenomenon with social, economic, and normative implications. According to UNFPA (2026), the proportion of people aged 65 and over is increasing significantly worldwide, making aging not only a matter of social policy but also a central issue within human rights debates. The study explores the historical meanings of aging, major theoretical approaches in the sociology of aging, and contemporary social problems, and reinterprets these dimensions within a rights-based framework. The research argues that classical approaches in the sociology of aging tend to focus on problems such as poverty, care dependency, social exclusion, and vulnerability, whereas a human rights perspective reconceptualizes older individuals as active rights-holders rather than passive recipients of care. In this context, key human rights domains—such as equality and non-discrimination, social security, the right to health and care, and participation rights—are directly linked to the lived experience of aging. Furthermore, contemporary issues such as ageism, digital inequality, and structural exclusion are interpreted not merely as social policy concerns but as potential human rights violations. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that aging is not only a biological or economic process but also a fundamental human rights field closely associated with human dignity, equal citizenship, and social justice.

Prioritizing Ethical Principles in Foreign Trade According to the Literature: A Paradigm Shift

Emine Taş — 2026-07-16

Driven by the recent acceleration in digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have become central to international trade operations. While delivering unprecedented efficiency and convenience across domains ranging from customs procedures to supply chain management, this integration simultaneously raises profound ethical concerns regarding data privacy, confidentiality, transparency, and fairness. Particularly following the enactment of the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), ethical compliance has transcended philosophical debate, emerging as a novel non-tariff barrier. Consequently, enterprises exporting goods or establishing logistics networks within Europe must ensure not only product quality but also the transparency, fairness, and accountability of their underlying algorithms. The objective of this study is to identify the fundamental ethical principles governing AI deployment in foreign trade operations and to propose a conceptual model utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate their practical significance in the field. A decision matrix will be constructed based on seven primary ethical criteria derived from the literature: Human Agency, Technical Robustness, Privacy, Transparency, Fairness, Societal Well-being, and Accountability. Accordingly, the anticipated findings, derived from expert evaluations in the field, are expected to provide decision-makers with a strategic roadmap for building a trust-based and sustainable global trade ecosystem.

A Examination on Angel Figures in Chiaroscuro and Tenebrism Techniques in Baroque Art

Tuğba Yücel — 2026-07-16

This article will examine the Baroque art movement, which emerged in 17th-century Europe and is characterized by its dramatic narrative, intense emotionality, and dynamic compositions, focusing on the techniques used, particularly chiaroscuro and tenebrism, their visual and symbolic significance through the use of angelic figures. Furthermore, the prominence of light in compositions strengthens the narrative. Chiaroscuro emphasizes the volüme and depth of angelic figures, while tenebrism highlights dramatic effect and spiritual intensity. Based on this observation, the angelic images in the Works of Baroque artists such as Caravaggio, Rubens, Gentileschi, Rembrandt, Ribera, Velázquez are analyzed, especially in religious scenes. By utilizing formal analysis and iconographic approaches in the examination process, the aim is to reveal how the contrast between light and darkness in angelic figures is transformed into a visual representation of divine enlightenment and holiness. In this context, the article evaluates the narrative-building role of light in Baroque art and the function of angelic figures within this narrative.

Taxatıon Of Expert Wıtness Fees: Uncertaıntıes, Solutıons And Accountıng

Süleyman Elçi — 2026-07-16

Turkish tax legislation provides tax exemptions for certain fees. One of these exemptions is the minimum wage-level earnings of experts and consultants. The study aims to identify uncertainties regarding the application of the tax exemption system to expert fees earned in Turkey and to propose a solution to the existing uncertainty. In this study, the documentary review method, one of the qualitative research designs, was used, and the study data were obtained from a real event. The data were utilized with the relevant person's permission. From the analysis of the data, it was determined that the uncertainty regarding exemptions could be resolved by adapting the tax exemption system applied to minimum wage earners to expert fees. An exemplary application was made in accordance with proposed innovations regarding the expert fee tax exemption system. The aim of the application is to prevent problems encountered in cases such as the rejection and refund of taxes levied on expert fees due to uncertainty in the existing exception system, and the correction of taxpayer or account errors. Thanks to the proposal put forward in the study and reflected in the application, objections and correction procedures arising from tax laws and accounting practices will be minimized. Thus, the expert witness will be able to bring uniformity, clarity, and simplicity to the exception application. Additionally, the unnecessary bureaucracy associated with expert fee exemption refund requests will also be prevented.