Schoolchildren' Civic Empowerment Index, September 2012

The purpose of the study: to determine the changes in Lithuanian pupils' interest in public affairs, their civil participation, willingness to be engaged in civil actions at the local and national level, the attitudes towards the available civil power and the assessment of the friendliness of social environment to engage in civil activities.
Major investigated questions: respondents were asked if it is important for them to know daily news about sport, life of famous people, cultural life, political life, business and economy, criminal news and accidents, news about matters of their place of residence, community problems. It was questioned if media in Lithuania (press, newspapers, television, internet news portals) provides reliable news about work and adopted decisions of our country's government. It was questioned how often respondents talk about politics with their friends, parents and teachers. Respondents were asked if they are interested in politics. Respondents had an opportunity to indicate how would they act if a serious political, economic or some local significance problem would emerge for them and for a whole society. It was questioned if initiative in school related with solving political, economic or local problems would be supported by teachers, classmates, other students, parents and people outside school (community of city or village). It was questioned if respondents would participate in the Seimas elections in October. Respondents assessed possibilities of their participation in political life. It was questioned to what extent an ordinary person must be active in his/hers community life. After a group of questions about various forms of political participation and means of community actions or social solidarity was presented, respondents civic activity was assessed. It was analysed in what way participation in civic activities (activity of civic organizations, civic actions, activity of community, etc.) could be important personally. After a list of different pupil organizations was presented, respondents were asked if currently they participate, have participated or never participated in activities of those organizations. It was questioned how much attention is dedicated to civic education in school where respondents study and if civic education is useful. After a list of statements was presented, respondents were asked about civic education in school. It was questioned if citizenship of pupils is educated in classes of Lithuanian language, history and ethics/religion. After different groups of society was listed, respondents were asked to evaluate power of these groups over influence on decision making that affects lives of society as a whole or its different groups. Also, respondents were asked to assess the risk of civic activity when they were asked how it is likely that residents who currently are initiating or actively participating in civic actions, activities would encounter with problems that were listed to respondents. Respondents had an opportunity to evaluate present conditions of living in Lithuania in a ten-point scale. Further, respondents were asked what living condition it will be in Lithuania in 10 years. At the end of the survey, respondents were asked if they would like to permanently leave Lithuania and go live in another country.
Socio-demographic characteristics: gender, age, nationality, education, monthly family income per one family member, occupation, place of residence.