Junior High School Students’ Perceptions of the United States and Selected Other Nations

Abstract

Political socialization research provided the frame work for this study which examined the perceptions of 7th and 8th grade students of the United States, Mexico, Russia, and China. Twenty semantic differential scales were used to record students' views of each ration on three a priori dimensions. Factor analysis of the data identified three factors which were labeled Social Geography, Cultural Identity, and Political Ideology. Deviation scores and ranks of the four countries on each dimension suggested that while the United States was viewed differently, the perceptions of the students toward Mexico, Russia, and China generally were similar. However, examination of students' responses on selected semantic differential variables showed knowledge errors in geography, political ideology and ethnocentrism.