ERIC Number: EJ1112519
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1691-4147
EISSN: N/A
Human Securitability: A Participatory Action Research Study Involving Novice Teachers and Youngsters
Kravale-Paulina, Marite; Olehnovica, Eridiana
Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability, v17 n2 p91-107 2015
Civic participation, initiative and interest in current events can bridge the alienation felt towards national and municipal institutions, thereby enabling individuals to improve their quality of life and contribute to all-round sustainable development of their resident state. This paper reports on a participatory action research study into civic initiatives for securitability involving novice teachers and youngsters from the Latgale region of Latvia. Research participants evaluated national planning documents, enhanced their knowledge and devised civic initiatives to improve the quality of life. Focus group discussions and reasoned argumentative essays were employed to establish how novice teachers (n = 40) and youngsters (n = 58) make sense of the concept of "human securitability". Data analysis was accomplished by qualitative content analysis. The action research exposed an initial understanding of novice teachers and youngsters regarding the human securitability and the possibilities of improving the quality of life. Moreover, this study provided an environment for the research participants to deepen their understanding of said phenomena and participate in educational events envisioning practical engagement with securitability and civic initiatives. The action research study created initiatives for the development of civic securitability and the participation in setting developmental goals.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Civics, Citizen Participation, Empowerment, Strategic Planning, Participatory Research, Action Research, Security (Psychology), Beginning Teachers, Children, Regional Planning, Guidelines, Quality of Life, Focus Groups, Persuasive Discourse, Essays, Content Analysis, Sustainable Development, Public Policy, Policy Formation, Geographic Regions, Masters Programs, Interviews, Qualitative Research
UNESCO Chair on Interplay of Tradition and Innovation in ESD. Parades 1-220, Daugavpils University, Daugavplis LV-5401, Latvia. Tel: 371-6542-5452; Fax: 371-6542-2890; e-mail: unescochair@du.lv; Web site: http://www.du.lv
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Latvia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A