ATTITUDES OF ADULT CONVICTED WOMEN TO EDUCATION IN SLOVAKIA

Abstract

The study presents the attitudes of adult convicted women in a research sample of 186 respondents (29.5% of respondents from the basic sample) employing the questionnaire method. The research was carried out in 2017 and it was aimed to identify the most significant barriers that prevent convicted women from participating in prison training activities, how their attitudes and overall gross score relate to subjective perceptions of learning difficulty, and to identify the differences in gross attitude scores with respect to participation in discussions, lectures and quizzes. The convicts identified the lack of orientation in learning options and that the learning options do not reflect their needs and interest as the most significant barriers. Based on statistical analysis using Spearman's rho coefficient a statistically significant relationship was found between all attitude statements and subjective perception of learning difficulty (at the level of p <0.05 and p <0.01). The strongest correlation was found with the statements “I learn with ease” (rs = - 0.460), “I want to learn” (rs = -0.412), “I know how to learn"(rs = -0.432) and the total score (rs = -0.441). Based on the Mann-Whitey U test significant differences in the gross score of attitudes with respect to participation in all educational activities: discussions (U = 1505,500; p <0.001), lectures (U = 1846,500; p = 0.048), quizzes (U = 1654,000; p = 0.007) were found – respondents participating in educational activities achieved statistically more significant higher scores.