Determination of Turkish First Robotics Competition (FRC) participants’ perceptions towards FRC via metaphors and construction of a novel mind map

In this study, it is aimed to investigate Turkish First Robotics Competition (FRC) participants’ perceptions towards the concept of FRC with the help of metaphors and to construct a novel mind map.  The study is expected to contribute to FRC research and development studies by presenting local information from the point of Turkey.  Also, the study will allow the researchers to compare the findings obtained from Turkey with FRC core values.  For this reason, a qualitative study in the design of phenomenology was conducted with 282 Turkish FRC participants in fall, 2018.  Data were collected with the help of a questionnaire consisting of two questions.  The findings showed that participants mostly perceived FRC as family, school of life and addictive matter.  Also, most of the participants mentioned robot and teamwork among their initial responses when they heard the word, FRC.  As a result, the study indicated the excitement of Turkish participants towards FRC by relating their perceptions to the FRC core values and philosophy.  So, it is thought that establishing cooperation with universities might be beneficial for future studies in Turkey.