Examines the attitudes of Irish secondary school students toward political parties and the influence of the parties on the students. Results showed high student awareness of party differences, parental disposition to be an important influence, and party attitude to be an important influence on certain issues. (Author/CK)

Argues that stability and continuity have been the primary characteristics of German political parties since World War II. Points out that even with reunification the German political party system has experienced little change. Contends that the response of the political parties to the continued impact of reunification largely will determine the…

This paper proposes that research and scholarship regarding nationalistic education be encouraged in order to increase our understanding of this form of values education. Nationalistic education, defined as those educational activities designed to develop a belief in national values, usually incorporates three dimensions: (1) development of…

The content and components that can be included in the social studies curriculum are dependent upon how the discipline is defined. If social studies is not simply an offshoot of social sciences, but, rather a required general education program concerned with the preparation of citizens for reflective participation in a democratic society and with…

Political psychology is the study of the bidirectional interaction of political and psychological processes. This academic discipline was founded after the First World War by Harold D. Lasswell. The content of political psychology is discussed and illustrative studies of the field are briefly summarized. (CS)

An attempt is made in this investigation to determine if a civic education program as found in this school in the midwest can develop attitudes conducive to active participation in political and public affairs. Students were asked to fill out a questionnaire based on scales developed to measure attitudes and opinions on politics, citizenship, and…

The main purpose of this volume is to provide information and ideas which might contribute to the improvement of secondary school instruction about voter behavior and elections. The focus is on the real political world and why people behave as they do. Facts and ideas are drawn from the work of social scientists, and the questions raised are those…

The "spillover" hypothesis, the suggestion that early childhood images of the president affect the development of attitudes toward the operation of the political system, is tested. Evidence both consistent and inconsistent with the hypothesis is found. (Author)

The four political attitudes studied involved political interest, political alienation, racial equality, and the Vietnam war. Schooling effects influenced political interest and anti-Vietnam war attitudes but not political alienation and feelings about racial equality. (CS)

To determine whether African Americans' public opinion is heterogeneous because of the role of factors (such as education) in the opinion formation process, data from the National Opinion Research Center's 1982 General Social Survey were examined. Significant differences exist along educational lines, and African Americans are not politically…

This paper presents a brief account, based upon available Chinese materials, of the history of Chinese libraries under communism. The discussion of the effects upon libraries of the changing political, economic, and social conditions of China after the founding of the People's Republic in 1949 is divided into four sections: the Young People's…

Elementary school children frequently watch child-oriented news segments on Saturday morning television, and they occasionally view network newscasts. News viewing is mildly associated with political knowledge and public affairs interest for older children, but younger viewers learn little. Parent/child discussions of news are also related to…

Linguistic cues evoke prestructured beliefs in people's minds regarding the nature and causes of public problems. Political language can shape people's opinions and thereby shape events. There appear to be two beliefs or myths that people use to explain social problems: the first sees the sufferer as responsible for his own plight in a basically…

Discusses how English/language-arts teachers can actively teach students to use a socially critical lens for thinking. Considers three modes of teaching this. Discusses how, once students have a least 10 notebook entries focused on social issues, "noticings," and questions, they should be able to reread their notebooks for themes that have…

The impact of social and political events on the development of political attitudes in children is examined. Political learning is seen as an invariant sequence of developmental stages dependent upon physical and intellectual growth, and current events. The data consist of interviews with children at the third through the ninth grade levels. The…