Sultan Qaboos University Social Studies Student Teachers’ Level of Economic Awareness

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the SQU College of Education social studies students’ level of economic awareness. A measure of economic awareness was utilized for the purpose of the study. This measure consisted of two components: a knowledge component and an affective one. The knowledge component consisted of four dimensions. These were economic resources, investment, marketing system, and economic blocs. The affective domain focusing on attitudes consisted of six dimensions: economic media, global investments, labor sector, economy and poverty and economy and the environment. The measure was validated by submitting it to a group of jury members and its reliability was established. The measure was administered to all BA and MA students of social studies in the academic year (2008/ 2009): (61) male and female BA students and (30) male and female MA students. Only (84) responses were returned. These constituted the sample of the study. The level of economic awareness of those students was found to be low. There were statistically significant differences in the level of economic awareness that could be attributed to gender, students’ major and their educational level. One of the recommendations of the study was the need to develop the knowledge structure related to economic topics in the content of social studies curriculum.