Learning to live Democracy 2.0 - Political socialization at the beginning of secondary school

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Simone Abendschön; Dr. Markus Tausendpfund
• Subject Area: Political Science
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 454772248

In political socialisation research, it is still unclear how political knowledge and democratic value orientations develop in the first year of lower secondary education, what role is played by school characteristics (e.g. type of school) and existing social inequalities. It is also unclear whether and, if so, how the development of democratic value orientations goes hand in hand with the development of political knowledge. In order to address these research gaps, we will conduct a panel survey of fifth grade students at different schools in the Giessen region within the framework of the proposed project. By measuring the results twice, different factors in their influence can be identified. The following research questions will be addressed by the project: 1 What level of political knowledge and democratic value orientations do fifth grade students have? How are these levels distributed?2. How do political knowledge and democratic value orientations develop in the fifth grade?3 Which factors influence the development of political knowledge and democratic value orientations?4. What role is played by the type of school or other school variables such as class/school climate, teaching content and methods, and teachers' orientations and beliefs?5. How do the development of political knowledge and democratic value orientations relate to each other?6. What role does the social background of the pupils play in the developmental processes?With this project, the role of the transition from primary to secondary school forms moves into the focus of political socialisation research for the first time. Furthermore, the influence of the school type and other school factors as well as the social background on the development of democratic value orientations and political knowledge at the beginning of lower secondary school is investigated. At the same time, the connection between value orientations and political knowledge is examined from a socialisation perspective. Are they interrelated, are they mutually dependent and, if so, in what way? The research project thus pursues the following goals:1. to describe and explain the level, development and distribution of pupils’ political knowledge in fifth grade.2. description and explanation of the level, development and distribution of democratic value orientations of fifth grade pupils.3. description and explanation of the connection between political knowledge and democratic value orientations of fifth grade pupils.The study will provide initial answers to these questions, which are central to political socialisation and democracy research. The research project focuses on the crucial change from primary school to secondary school.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants