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Pupil’s Decision-making Ability in the Context of Sustainable Development: Construction of a Typology of Decision-making Processes

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  • Federica Valsangiacomo

    (Federica Valsangiacomo, Professorship for Educational Theories and Interdisciplinary Teaching, Institute for Kindergarten and Lower School, University of Teacher Education, FHNW, Solothurn 4502, Switzerland. E-mail: federica.valsangiacomo@fhnw.ch)

Abstract

Shaping one’s own everyday life in the sense of sustainable development (SD) and participating in corresponding social processes call for the ability to make decisions in terms of SD. To promote this ability, this article focuses on the question of how pupils make decisions in the context of SD and which types of decision-making processes (DMP) can be identified. To this end, 27 pupils from various Swiss German schools were interviewed in this study using the thinking-aloud method. The data were analysed according to the method of empirically grounded type construction by Kelle and Kluge. This resulted in five types of DMP. Differences were particularly evident in the formulation and consideration of several options for action as well as in weighing them up. The heterogeneity of DMP suggests that pupils’ decision-making ability can be optimally promoted and expanded through peer learning in the classroom.

Suggested Citation

  • Federica Valsangiacomo, 2023. "Pupil’s Decision-making Ability in the Context of Sustainable Development: Construction of a Typology of Decision-making Processes," Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, , vol. 17(1), pages 78-100, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jousus:v:17:y:2023:i:1:p:78-100
    DOI: 10.1177/09734082231183344
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gisela Cebrián & Mercè Junyent & Ingrid Mulà, 2020. "Competencies in Education for Sustainable Development: Emerging Teaching and Research Developments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-9, January.
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    3. Carola Garrecht & Till Bruckermann & Ute Harms, 2018. "Students’ Decision-Making in Education for Sustainability-Related Extracurricular Activities—A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
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