Student's learning and retention of academic content in a meaningful way depends on strengthening their cognitive structures. Once this structure, which provides a framework in which new knowledge will be included, is ascertained, engaging in teaching activities can create an opportunity for learners to have a different learning experience. Word association test are very functional in revealing the networks between the cognitive structure of the students and the concepts in this structure. The aim of this research is to reveal the cognitive structures of secondary school students who take social studies course towards the concepts in the unit of "active citizenship". In the research conducted in the survey model, the word association test was used as a data gathering tool in the study. As a result of the research, it has been observed that students mostly associate the concept of institution with school, organization with country, management with presidential, involvement with vote, and active citizen with mindfulness. [For the full proceedings, see ED654100.]