The priority of the research project is to deepen our knowledge of the influences, both positive and negative, on the decision for or against higher education for students from so-called "educationally disadvantaged" families. The low level of intergenerational educational mobility, also referred to as educational inheritance, is detrimental to both educational policy and society as a whole. It excludes young people a priori from empowerment processes through education due to unfavorable starting conditions, structural barriers, information deficits, lack of role models and discouraging school experiences.

Project aim

• The project aims to raise awareness of the partly hidden influencing factors and thereby generate insights into possible motivational approaches for educational planning, educational policy and school design.

Combination of Methods including andecdote research

The design provides for quantitative and qualitative surveys in the sense of mixed-methods. By means of questionnaire surveys, representative data on students of general education (AHS) and vocational education (BHS) Matura classes will be collected in relation to the research questions. This data material on manifest influencing and contextual factors (e.g. educational level of parents and siblings, structural issues such as 'urban' or 'rural') as well as on individual expressions of interest will be deepened by means of narrative interviews and reflective focus groups with students and mentors. Phenomenological anecdotal research will be used to analyze the interviews, as anecdotes have the potential to make remembered experiences visible and to connect them with reflections on the present.

Projektteam

• Hans Karl Peterlini (Project leader)
• Jasmin Donlic (Coordination)
• Peter Schlögl und Julia Stopper (Co-Submitters, Steering group)
• Elvisa Imsirovic, Ingrid Lippitz, Verena Reumüller