Attitudes to Studying in Poland
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/PBE.2021.003Keywords
political transformation, attitudes to study, higher education, universityAbstract
The research problem was defined as ‘What is the attitude towards studying in Poland, and how has it changed in connection with transformational and generational changes?’
Methods of data collection and analysis: An original questionnaire, “Attitudes to Studying”, containing 55 statements referring to nine content areas defining attitudes towards studying.
Indication of the research sample: The research was conducted between 2015 and 2017 (N=2102). Three generations were defined, as follows: younger generation, 17–39; middle generation, 40–59; and older generation, 60 plus. Other variables taken into consideration were study status, political transformation (study before and after 1989), and gender.
Main results: The research allowed us to distinguish three empirical factors relating to motivation to study. The first of these is linked to the decrease in motivation connected with the egalitarianism of studying. This factor was more important for women than for men. The second indicates the significance of a university’s prestige when taking up studies . Motivation understood in this way was more important for women, people studying before the political transformation, and the results on this scale generally increased with the age of the respondents. The third indicates the role of social pressure in making decisions about studying – this is more important for people studying before the political transformation, and for men compared to women. Interestingly, social pressure is more important for those still studying than for those who have already graduated.
Conclusions: The research made it possible to distinguish three main groups of motives relating to studying in Poland: the environment and prestige of the university as factors increasing motivation, and the egalitarianism of studies as a factor decreasing motivation. Attitudes towards studying are influenced by both the motives present before the political transformation, as well as those which appeared as the result of socio-cultural changes.
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