Mental maps of Portuguese students: analysis of questions A and B

Abstract

The Eurobroadmap survey in Portugal has been done between October and December of 2009, n 3 portuguese cities; Lisbon city, capital of the country, and Coimbra and Évora, two medium-sized cities located in the center and south of Portugal. It was applied to 480 students. According to the main objectives of the project, the survey in Portugal was intended to produce a certain set of visions of the world/Europe, held by undergraduate students from 6 different domains. In this framework, the Portuguese sample should add to the project a specific perception of the world, shaped by the historical, political and economic background. The structure of the sample is allowed to identify different experiences and visions of the world, according to the students’ education level and, specially, according to their gender, spatial mobility and socio-economical background. The variables analyzed were: domain of study, gender, number of languages spoken, number of countries visited, number of countries where the students have lived more than 4 months, place of birth, level of education of parents, places where the students would like or not like to live in. The first results of the survey showed that the questioned students have a general knowledge of the world. Nevertheless, Portuguese students surveyed have a relatively limited experience of the world and a patterned perception of the world states and cities. Portuguese students also have a general north (like to live) –south (not like to live) patterned perception of the world states and cities.Taking into consideration the actual limited experience of the world (traduced by lowest number of visited countries and other subjects that the survey have), the conclusion that stands out is obviously that portuguese students knowledge is an indirect one, based on information provided by media and school, and on the local and national socio-cultural universe.