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do modern youth think they can Change the World?comparative data on environmental challenges - in the light of perspectives from youth research
IOSTE, 25-30 July 2004, Lublin, PolandCamilla Schreiner, PhD student, University of Oslo
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Environmental education
education for
understanding of youth's viewaction empowerment
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Outline
1. 'empowerment'
2. literature
3. focus
4. ROSE countries and samples
5. empirical findings
6. conclusion and discussion
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Empowerment
has hope and visions for the future
is motivated for actionhas a general feeling that s/he
can influence thinks that it is important for
society is interested and engaged in the
issue (has sufficient knowledge)
An empowered person...
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Young peoples future images
personal: optimistic (education, nuclear family, occupation, leisure)
national: pessimism, but expect improvements (drug abuse, crime, unemployment, sexism, racism, local
pollution) global: apocalyptic expectations
(war, ecological catastrophes, overpopulation, famine)
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Future fears
without the feeling that one can change it to the better ...
one may choose a here-and-now attitude live for today at the expense of tomorrow
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Focus
one profile in modern youth's attitudes? empowered?
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The term 'modernity'
modernisation, modernity, pre-, late-, post-modern
modern antonym: traditional, non-modern
≠ old-fashioned
≠ out-dated
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The ROSE project
presented at mini-symposium international comparative projectmore than 40 participating countries questionnaire with Likert scalesprobing 15 years old students' interests,
experiences, future expectations, etc. Not interestedVery interested, DisagreeAgree, etc.
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Samples(5 + 5 + 3)
N age14-16
guidelinesfollowed
Norway 1204
Iceland 618
Sweden 746
England (UK) 1266 *
N Ireland (UK) 832 ÷
Uganda 758 ÷*
Lesotho 467 ?
Ghana 782 (50% urban)
Zimbabwe 533 ?÷
Philippines 4434 ? (TIMSS)
Japan 560 ?
Trinidad & 638 ?
Greece 547
has followed the sampling procedure described in the ROSE handbook
÷ has not followed the sampling procedure
? has yet not written the report on how the study was organised
* low response rate
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Question D (18 items)
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23
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2,5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
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D. Me and the environmental challenges
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Optimist/pessimist
D2. Environmental problems make the future of the world look bleak and hopeless
D7. We can still find solutions to our environmental problems
D14. I am optimistic about the future
PessimistD2. Environmental problems make the future of the
world look bleak and hopeless
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
N Ireland
England
Iceland
Sweden
Norway
Philippines
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Lesotho
Trinidad &
Greece
Japan
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OptimistD14. I am optimistic about the future
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
N Ireland
England
Iceland
Sweden
Norway
Philippines
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Lesotho
Trinidad &
Greece
Japan
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Motivation for action
D5. I am willing to have environmental problems solved even if this means sacrificing many goods
D13. Environmental problems should be left to the experts
D1. Threats to the environment are not my business
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Motivation for action
D5. I am willing to have environmental problems solved even if this means sacrificing many goods
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
N Ireland
England
Iceland
Sweden
Norway
Philippines
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Lesotho
Trinidad &
Greece
Japan
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Motivation for action
D13. Environmental problems should be left to the experts
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
N Ireland
England
Iceland
Sweden
Norway
Philippines
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Lesotho
Trinidad &
Greece
Japan
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Important
D10. People should care more about protection of the environment
D3. Environmental problems are exaggerated
D8. People worry too much about environmental problems
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ImportantD8. People worry too much about environmental
problems
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
N Ireland
England
Iceland
Sweden
Norway
Philippines
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Lesotho
Trinidad &
Greece
Japan
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Personally influence
D6. I can personally influence what happens with the environment
D12. I think each of us can make a significant contribution to environmental protection
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Personally influence
D12. I think each of us can make a significant contribution to environmental protection
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
N Ireland
England
Iceland
Sweden
Norway
Philippines
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Lesotho
Trinidad &
Greece
Japan
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Interest E3. The ozone layer and how it may be affected by humans
E4. The greenhouse effect and how it may be changed by humans
E5. What can be done to ensure clean air and safe drinking water
E6. How technology helps us to handle waste, garbage and sewage
E19. Organic and ecological farming without use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers
E20. How energy can be saved or used in a more effective way
E21. New sources of energy from the sun, wind, tides, waves, etc.
Interests in learning about Environmental protection
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1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
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The role of S&T
D4. Science and technology can solve all environmental problems
Girls
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
N Ireland
England
Iceland
Sweden
Norway
Philippines
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Lesotho
Trinidad &
Greece
Japan
Boys
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
N Ireland
England
Iceland
Sweden
Norway
Philippines
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Lesotho
Trinidad &
Greece
Japan
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Cluster analysis
of question Dcalculate 'distances' between countriesgives clusters of countriessimilarities and differences between countries
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Clustering countries
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Conclusion (1)
a modern Western profile! no support for apocalypse 'socially accepted' attitudes
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less optimistic
Conclusion (2)
... and less pessimistic
modern youth:
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Conclusion (3)
modern youth have less faith in S&T
more inclined to leave the problem to the experts
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less motivated for action
Conclusion (4)
modern youth:
more concerned
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Discussion
'empowerment' ... validity of some items ...
