On the relationship between economic competence and the individual level of agreement with market economy

A series of studies in several countries tested the economic understanding of people, particularly students. The performance of the subjects is typically conceived as showing ＂deficits＂. These alleged deficits seem to correspond with scepticism towards market economy. Better test scores in general correlate with higher appraisal of market society. Could therefore a better understanding influence the attitudes towards phenomena of economic life, like competition, unequal income distribution and other characteristics of market economy？ This paper identifies different factors influencing both the levels of economic understanding and the attitudes towards economy. It analyzes results of empirical studies and, as a conclusion, develops an ＂influence model＂ reflecting the connection between the form of perception of market-induced phenomena, i.e. economic competence, and the evaluation of these phenomena. The model is the fundament for the design of forthcoming studies.     

Informal Learning and the Role of Social Movements

It is now widely recognised that skills and competences needed for working and living can be acquired in a variety of ways outside the framework of formal educational systems. The author calls for an enlarged view of learning that emphasises the abilities of the individual learner and includes informal acquisition of skills on-the-job. In this kind of learning the teacher has to acquire a different role, becoming more of a partner in a joint educational process. The author argues that in this regard we can learn much from the example of popular educational movements in Latin America, some of which have established successful collaboration with the world of employment. In these examples he sees indications of promising approaches for the future.     

Analysis of problem solving strategies on the Kohs block design test

The present study investigated the strategies involved in the Kohs Block Design task from a cognitive point of view. One purpose was to improve the classical distinction between syncretic and analytic strategies. An other goal was to determine whether subjects show the same strategies according to their field dependence level. Finally, we analysed the way the subjects described their own strategies in order to assess their metacognitive skills. The subjects (17 year-old pupils) were first given a field dependence proof (G.E.F.T.), then the Kohs Block Design task and finally were interviewed about their strategies. Each pupil was tested individually and videotaped. The strategies were drawn by four indicators. The results indicated three strategies: syncretic, analytic and synthetic strategies. The degree of field dependence clearly distinguished the strategies in the Block Design task: more independent the subject is, more he used a synthetic strategy. Finally, the subjects’ verbalizations were more closely connected with their behaviours. In a general way, the subjects appeared to be steady in the use of a particular strategy.