Italian adolescents’ understandings of globalization

Introduction: Having a clear understanding of the concept of globalization can be particularly relevant for adolescents to comprehend how the world functions and to reflect on the way their personal and professional identity and career future might be affected by globalization. Thus, this mixed design study aimed at examining Northeastern Italian adolescents’ thinking about globalization and at exploring the potential role of education (the type of school) in conceptualizing globalization. Methods: A total of 163 Italian adolescents (42.3% boys and 57.5% girls) aged 16–19 years, attending a scientific lyceum or a commercial, technological, or professional high school participated in the study. Participants were invited to explain the concept of globalization. Their answers were analyzed using a thematic analysis procedure. Results: & Conclusions:. The analyses revealed adolescents’ limited and inaccurate understandings of globalization, with almost exclusive emphasis on the positive aspects of globalization, and without a critical understanding of its consequences. Moreover, no differences related to their educational experience (the type of school they attended) or socio-economic status emerged when reporting their understanding of globalization. The results suggested the relevance of a training process for the promotion of critical thinking, especially in the field of career guidance.