Beliefs about Poverty and Wealth Among High School Students

บทคัดย่อ

While most research projects on poverty and wealth are quantitative, there is a dearth of qualitative research, particularly among students in the Philippines. As a result, this study uses a qualitative case study to explore high school students' beliefs about poverty and wealth. Data were collected from eight high school students from a Philippine all-boys school. All the participants were single and male. They were 13 to 17 years old. Qualitative data were collected utilizing Google Meet for online semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The responses were transcribed and recorded. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed four themes. For the beliefs on poverty, (1) lack of opportunities results in poverty; (2) the root of poverty is unwise decisions. For the beliefs on wealth, (3) wealth reinforces life satisfaction; and (4) wealth changes personality. This research can be beneficial for teachers in the field of social sciences who touch on topics related to poverty and wealth. Other professionals working with high school students can use this as a tool to spark meaningful conversations. Using other research methodologies and expanding the number of participants and genders involved are suggested.