Research: Political Efficacy and Expected Political Participation among Lower and Upper Secondary Students

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Recommended: Importance of politics in education

The sampling method of the researchers was a simple, yet extensive questionnaire with responses that did not extend past the boundaries of the children’s literacy abilities. **A sample of the questionnaire is listed below (van Deth et al, 167)**

Political Knowledge

Indicator: Question wording and responses:

Politicians/Parties/Laws Have you ever heard about Politicians/Parties/Laws? Yes/No.

Chancellor Do you know this man [Picture of Gerhard Schröder who was German chancellor at both survey time points is shown]? Yes/No.

Access to power Do you know how to become a chancellor? A lot of money/ a lot of muscles/ an election/ don’t know.

Function chancellor Who is this man? [referring to the picture of Schröder again] Is he a mayor?/ a chancellor?/ a king?/ don’t know.

Power in Germany Who has the power in Germany? Is it the king?/ the mayor?/ the chancellor?/ don’t know.

Task of politicians What do you think politicians basically do? They coach a soccer team/ they decide on the nation and take care of it/ they regulate the traffic/ don’t know.

Political Issues

Indicator: Question wording and responses:

Pollution Have you heard about a polluted nature? Yes/No.

Famine Have you heard about some people not having enough to eat? Yes/No.

War Have you heard about some people who are at war with some others? Yes/No.

Unemployment Have you heard about some people who would like to work but could not find a job? Yes/No.

Migration Have you heard about some people from other country moving to our country? Yes/No.

Terror Have you heard about terrorist attacks in some countries? Yes/No.

Notions of Good Citizenship

Imagine the boss of Germany or another important person coming to your town and awarding people for being...

... middle of paper ...

...ssment of Early Political Socialization, May 2014, Web, Figure 1.

Van Deth J, Abendschon S, Vollmar M. Chart. Factor Structures of Political Knowledge. Children and Politics: An Empirical Reassessment of Early Political Socialization, May 2014, Web, Table 1.

Van Deth J, Abendschon S, Vollmar M. Chart. Factor Structures of Political Problems and Issues. Children and Politics: An Empirical Reassessment of Early Political Socialization, May 2014, Web, Table 2.

Van Deth J, Abendschon S, Vollmar M. Chart. Factor Structures of Notions of Good Citizenship. Children and Politics: An Empirical Reassessment of Early Political Socialization, May 2014, Web, Table 3.

Van Deth J, Abendschon S, Vollmar M. Chart. The Impact of Major Antecedents on Political Orientations. Children and Politics: An Empirical Reassessment of Early Political Socialization, May 2014, Web, Table 4.

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