Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on Social Sciences in the 21st Century
Year: 2025
[PDF]
Exploring Historical Interests of Secondary Students in Slovakia: a Pilot Survey
Timotej Smutný
ABSTRACT:
This article reports on a pilot quantitative survey exploring students’ interest in history among lower secondary school pupils aged 11–15. The survey aimed to identify which historical periods and topics are most engaging to students and to examine how they interpret selected historical narratives. For this purpose, a questionnaire was developed that included questions about students’ relationship to history both in and outside of school, as well as their preferences in relation to specific periods and thematic areas. The questionnaire also included three short stimulating texts on historical topics, and respondents were asked to indicate their overall interest and select the aspect they considered most important. The study is currently in its pilot phase, focusing on testing the usability of the survey tool and assessing its capacity to capture students’ historical preferences. The results of this pilot will inform the design of a subsequent research phase, and contribute to the development of a more nuanced understanding of students’ engagement with history.
Keywords: Historical Narratives; History Education; Secondary Education; Stimulating Texts Student Preferences