Master thesis

1. Assumptions of the master's thesis

1.1 Explanation and commentary on the title of the thesis

The theory of self-management optimistically assumes that a man is able to manage his own life in such a way as to have a sense of mastery over it. The aim of the work is to examine the needs of teaching psychology among middle school and high school students. These needs will be determined on the basis of a survey examining the degree of application of more or less consciously acquired - on the basis of previous experience - psychological skills in everyday life, conducted among students.


1.2 Basic terms and variables of work

Exam stress, difficult situation, coping
Effective learning and remembering
Time Management
Self-presentation
Assertiveness
Tendency to succumb to addictions
Complexes and self-acceptance, self-esteem
Stereotypes and prejudice
Planning, the concept of life purpose


1.3 Theoretical issues

Skill
The concept of self-knowledge, self-awareness
The concept of self-management
Issues of psychology teaching methodology, psychologist as a teacher, ethical issues
The concept of self-management
Concepts for stimulating development


1.4 Work issue

Are there links between practical psychological knowledge used in everyday situations and the effectiveness of actions?

2. Research description

The respondents were students of the third grade of lower secondary school and third grade of secondary school, as well as teachers. Study groups of students consist of 100 people, teacher groups of 50 people.
The psychological skills of young people and their use in various life situations are examined in order to determine the need to implement classes in schools that would help in shaping these skills.
The tools are two created surveys. The first one examines the range of psychological skills and knowledge of young people, essential and helpful in life and development. The second tool is a survey aimed at collecting teachers' opinions on the need to improve psychological skills among young people.

The following skills (features) of young people are tested:
1. Dealing with stress.
2. Effective learning and remembering.
3. Time management.
4. Self-presentation.
5. Assertiveness.
6. Dealing with addictions.
7. Dealing with complexes.
8. Dealing with stereotypes.
9. Planning, knowledge of the professional goal.

The following scale of measuring the intensity of skills (features) was adopted:
1. I can't do it at all.
2. I can't do it well.
3. I know a little.
4. I can do it well.
5. I can do it perfectly.

3. Results of the conducted research

A spreadsheet and charts were used to present the results. The use of clear graphs and appropriate statistical functions allows for quick drawing of conclusions. The horizontal axis shows the 9 examined skills (features). The vertical axis shows the average value of the intensity of each of the examined skills, but it was decided to introduce the reference point at the level of the average value of the intensity of the feature (3-I can do it a little). Each study group is shown on the graph in the form of a bar of appropriate size and color.

The chart shows that junior high school students assess their level of possession of a given skill much higher than their high school peers.
Introduction of classes in psychology developing the examined skills would allow to maintain or increase their level. Only the assertiveness of secondary school students was assessed better by their teachers than the teachers of lower secondary school students.
In general, teachers rate their students much lower than students rate themselves. At the same time, the downward trend of grades in secondary school in relation to lower secondary school continues. Students cope well with addictions and are able to present themselves. It can be seen that the other examined skills need to be developed.

The graph shows that the comparison of young people of the same age, but from different equivalent schools, gives results that do not differ statistically.

The chart shows that there is a significant variation in the skills possessed by students in particular grades of the same lower secondary school.

The subject of the work met with great interest of the school management, so there was a need to prepare a presentation of the results. For this purpose, detailed charts were made for each school.

The graph shows that there is a much smaller differentiation of the same skills possessed by students in individual grades of high school in comparison to lower secondary school students. The intensity of a given feature varies within a few % depending on the tested class. Only the differences in the ability to cope with addictions and stress by individual classes are more visible (±9%).

4. Research tools

Below are both created for the purpose of this work and used in research anonymously completed questionnaires. The first one for a group of students and the second one for a group of teachers.