Abstract No. 0138 
  Presentation Early Career Researcher Conference Individual Paper 
  Title Exploring how children and young people see themselves and behave as 'economic beings'. 
  Abstract

Background to the topic

This research seeks to discover the degree to which children and young people are aware of the nature of their engagement in economic activity.  At a time of heightened concern over our economic future and the threat presented by economic activity to our environment, identifying the awareness, attitudes and behaviours of children and young people would seem to be an educational imperative.

Research questions

What are the economic and commercial influences on and between children and young people?

What is the nature of children and young people’s awareness, attitudes, understanding of economic concepts such as: scarcity and choice; cost; debt; alternative models of economic activity; financial exchange; conceptions of economic well-being; personal and community economic goals, use & sustainability of natural resources; personal and community values underpinning economic activity?

What current pedagogy and learning activity take place in schools whose goals are to explore and develop the awareness and engagement of children and young people as economic beings?

The impact of varying levels of competency in numeracy and financial literacy are also considered.

Research methods

Collaborative discovery among children and young people of what it means to be an 'economic being'.

Qualitative methods: interviews, small group discovery conversations, outcomes of classroom activities aimed at expanding learners’ critical engagement with economic processes. Interviews with educators.

Literature reviews and mapping.

Analytical framework

Data gathered from the outcomes of classroom activities, discussions and interviews are considered as evidence of awareness, understanding and engagement of children and young people in economic life and discourse.

Contribution to knowledge

This paper will be of interest to those committed to seeing a more critical awareness and engagement of children and young people whithin the economic sphere; so that children and young people are more prepared to evaluate the economic influences on their own lives and the lives of others.