Raising Children the Yörük Way: Traditional Practices and the Pressures of Modernization in Türkiye

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report (New Reviewer)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Title:

 

Traditional Culture and Child Rearing Practices among the Yörüks of Türkiye: Navigating the Tensions of Modernization

 

Comments:

1. Alternative Title Options

Raising Children the Yörük Way: Traditional Practices and the Pressures of Modernization in Türkiye

2. The manuscript needs to do the ‘work’ of a journal article. First, a ‘problem/inquiry’ should be posed clearly. Second, this ‘problem/inquiry’ needs to be argued as to why it is an important investigation (i.e., why it is worth the reader’s time) and what the philosophy offers as a new framing/conceptualisation. Please strengthen this argumentative approach, and the purpose of the article and why the reader should continue reading this article. To strengthen the argument, you could provide more context or reasoning to justify the revision.
3. The abstract will be revised to include following: Background, Context, Method, Data collection, conclusion and implication. Particularly, the section on implications needs to be more detailed. Theoretical Implications: How does this study enrich, complement, or challenge existing theories? Practical Implications: What recommendations can be drawn from the findings for educational practice, policy-making, or social engagement? Research Implications: What issues warrant further in-depth exploration in future studies? Strengthen this.
4. The introduction section should clearly elaborate on what we know about the topic and what's the gap instead of simply providing the background information. Introduction include the following: Problem of the study, Research Gap, Objective/Motivation. Strengthen this.
5. In the section of the discussion, I suggest the author should provide more theoritical literatures to dialogue with the results. Additional relevant studies should be included in order to enhance discussion. In addition, contextualise the discussion. Please strengthen the conclusion and implications.

 

Author Response

1. Alternative Title Options: Raising Children the Yörük Way: Traditional Practices and the Pressures of Modernization in Türkiye

The proposed title was accepted and the title was changed.

 

2. The manuscript needs to do the ‘work’ of a journal article. First, a ‘problem/inquiry’ should be posed clearly. Second, this ‘problem/inquiry’ needs to be argued as to why it is an important investigation (i.e., why it is worth the reader’s time) and what the philosophy offers as a new framing/conceptualisation. Please strengthen this argumentative approach, and the purpose of the article and why the reader should continue reading this article. To strengthen the argument, you could provide more context or reasoning to justify the revision.

Two paragraphs were added to the introduction section and answers were provided to these questions. The additions are written in red.

 

3. The abstract will be revised to include following: Background, Context, Method, Data collection, conclusion and implication. Particularly, the section on implications needs to be more detailed. Theoretical Implications: How does this study enrich, complement, or challenge existing theories? Practical Implications: What recommendations can be drawn from the findings for educational practice, policy-making, or social engagement? Research Implications: What issues warrant further in-depth exploration in future studies? Strengthen this.

The abstract was restructured and the implications sections were written concisely as suggested.

 

4. The introduction section should clearly elaborate on what we know about the topic and what's the gap instead of simply providing the background information. Introduction include the following: Problem of the study, Research Gap, Objective/Motivation. Strengthen this.

Subheadings were added to the introduction section, and the topics mentioned by the referee were highlighted in the introduction.

 

5. In the section of the discussion, I suggest the author should provide more theoritical literatures to dialogue with the results. Additional relevant studies should be included in order to enhance discussion. In addition, contextualise the discussion. Please strengthen the conclusion and implications.

This article is too long. This is the third revision. The introduction and theoretical framework are particularly detailed. Sufficient sources have been used. The topic has been covered thoroughly. A paragraph has been added to the discussion section in response to the referee's suggestion and marked in red.

Reviewer 2 Report (New Reviewer)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Summary:

This study investigates the traditional culture and child-rearing practices of the Yörük community in Türkiye, focusing on how modernization and compulsory education create tensions with their nomadic lifestyle and cultural identity. Using qualitative phenomenological methods and interviews with Yörük individuals, the research identifies key themes including the centrality of animal husbandry, strong family and community ties, gender-based roles, and a cautious but evolving attitude toward formal schooling. The Yörüks value preserving their cultural heritage and expect children to uphold traditional values, contribute socially, and resist settled life, while also recognizing some benefits of modern education for personal success. However, geographical, economic, and cultural barriers limit school access and acceptance, leading to feelings of alienation and resistance. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive, flexible educational policies that incorporate local knowledge, support girls’ education, and foster cooperation between families and schools to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity, ensuring both cultural preservation and educational inclusion.

 

Recommended revisions: This paper is comprehensive in the background literature and theoretical underpinnings, but I think adding a paragraph that suggests future directions of this research, such as including more participants in future studies, tracking attitudes over time, or comparing interventions that worked with other nomadic cultures would help improve the paper’s robustness. 

 

Otherwise, I found this paper to be strong.

Author Response

Comments 1: This paper is comprehensive in the background literature and theoretical underpinnings, but I think adding a paragraph that suggests future directions of this research, such as including more participants in future studies, tracking attitudes over time, or comparing interventions that worked with other nomadic cultures would help improve the paper’s robustness. 

Answer 1: A paragraph has been added to the conclusions and recommendations section in line with the referee's opinion. The paragraph in question is written in red.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report (New Reviewer)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Accept in present form

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Accept in present form

Author Response

I would like to yhank to the reviewer for giving me chance to improve the paper.

This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The balance between the traditional values ​​of the Yörük people and the needs of modern education is not clearly evident, nor is it clear how this balance has changed—that is, how modernization has affected Yörük culture. Nor is it specified how formal education and tradition interrelate. The objective of examining the relationship of the Yörük people with education and how it has changed over the years, examining childhood education and perspectives on school in Yörük culture, is not developed. Nor is the participation of Yörük children in education and the difficulties they face, as only an adult perspective is offered.
The final recommendations are standard and do not delve into the preservation of the traditions and knowledge of Yörük culture, as they are imposed from above, especially when they reject formal education.

In the research results, certain pieces of information are reiterated at different times (lines 213, 271, and 365), and there is some repetition. and even statements taken from informants are contradicted, making it unclear what result is intended to be reached, for example, between lines 462 and 471.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This work cannot be seen as a research piece. It lacks a theoretical framework. Its research design is not fully justified. it does not engage well with the literature, lacking criticality.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Acceptable but needs to be improved.