ADOLESCENTS, FOREIGNERS, AND EUROPE - ATT ITUDES AS A FUNCTION OF GLOBAL VALUE ORIENTATIONS AND SCHOOL TRACK

The study investigates into variations in adolescents' attitudes towar ds foreigners and foreign countries as a function of school track as w ell as into the mediating role global value orientations may play in t his process. Analyses are based on questionnaire data from 258 8th and 10th graders attending middle and high track schools. Sum scales were used to measure attitudes towards foreigners, European integration, a nd own contacts with other countries as well as three patterns of glob al value orientations (self actualization, power, tradition). Findings confirm the expectation that high track students show more openness c oncerning foreigners and foreign countries than middle track students do. This difference is partly due to adolescents' value orientations, namely self actualization as a goal for their own lives.