Open Access

Young adults’ perceptions of non-governmental organizations: Amasya sample

1 Amasya Governorate, Amasya, Turkiye
2 Amasya University, Faculty of Education, Amasya, Turkiye

Abstract

This study investigates university students' perceptions of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Amasya by analyzing diverse sociodemographic variables, such as gender, age, residence, and involvement in social responsibility projects, thereby offering a localized perspective on youth engagement with civil society. This research is one of the few to investigate the influence of social responsibility experience on the perception of NGOs, providing a contemporary and innovative contribution to the subject. Data were collected from 548 students using the "NGO Perception Scale" and analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and ANOVA. The findings indicate that students often have a pronounced positive attitude and a moderate unfavorable assessment of NGOs. Female students reported higher levels of positive ratings, but male students expressed more pronounced unfavorable thoughts. The results demonstrate that students in urban areas generally have more favorable views of NGOs compared to those in rural areas, and participation in social responsibility programs is associated with improved positive evaluations. Although students have a mostly positive impression of civil society, this perspective does not always translate into sustained and proactive involvement, highlighting the need for improved institutional support. The study highlights the need of enhancing social responsibility initiatives and university-NGO collaborations to increase youth civic engagement. Furthermore, it underscores the need of developing theoretical frameworks that include local context to understand youth involvement with civil society.

Keywords

How to Cite

Cicekli, A., & Eryilmaz, O. (2025). Young adults’ perceptions of non-governmental organizations: Amasya sample. International Journal of Eurasia Social Sciences, 16(60), 792–809. https://doi.org/10.70736/ijoess.1733

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