Kavcar, CahitKaraküçük, Suna Arslan2022-06-012022-06-012004http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12575/80767IV ABSTRACT This study aims of at investigating the concept of spatial behavior, the subject matter of different branches of art and science. To achieve this aim, first, the novels in which two major elements of this genre; character and setting/space are predominant were selected. Later, a literary criticism was made through a "content analysis" method. Within the frame of this method, which contains a descriptive and a screening study, the data obtained were evaluated considering basic concepts and terms of behavioral and literary sciences. Novels selected were six Turkish novels analyzed on the basis of both their characters and spacial sturucture and four additional Turkish novels which underwent a spatial analysis only. Character descriptions of the heroes in the novels were made. Moreover the names of the places described in the novels were counted and classified. Frequency rates of the places and their distribution according to the types of places were shown separately in two tables for each novel. Thus, primary and secondary spatial frames of the novels were drawn and the spatial categories into which these places fit were specified. In other words, the places where the characters in the novels frequently meet were figured out. After findings gathered from the six novels were comparatively evaluated, a general profile which indicated common/prior names of the places and common/prior place/space types was depicted. Finally, findings obtained were commonted on within the framework of spatial behavior/spatial psychology making use of the basic and current concepts of the behavioral sciences. The results showed that spatial elements form a crucial dimension of the novels and that novels consist of adequately abundant data in the examination of this dimension. Moreover, it is observed that there is a hidden/obligatory relationship between the characters and the places, which can be regarded as a novel-based finding which matches the observed realty. This relationship is heavily felt especially in doors, in indoor furniture and details. Taking the starting point from the observation that there are not many studies on behavioral sciences focusing on spatial preferences in the novels, this study is promising in that it pioneers and provides foundamental data for future studies in this field.trEğitim ve ÖğretimdoctoralThesis