2007-2010
The current research project aims to advance the knowledge, attitudes and skills regarding democratic citizenship of pupils aged fourteen and sixteen as well as the (school-related) factors by which these are influenced. Drawing on a representative survey of more than 150 schools in Flanders (Belgium), this project will not only describe and internationally compare the citizenship of Flemish grade 8 pupils, it will also give an evolution of democratic attitudes and (civic) engagement of Flemish youngsters of grade 10 compared to previous representative research in 1999-2000 and 2001-2002. In this way, we hope to fill the knowledge gap regarding political socialisation research on the one hand, and assess the specific impact of the cross-curricular theme 'education for democratic citizenship' and the participation decree on the other hand.