Resumen

OVELAR PEREYRA, Nora. An empirical aproximation to meanings and social representations on citizenship: étudiants d’éducation-UCV. EUS (région capitale) 2005-1. Investigación y Postgrado [online]. 2008, vol.23, n.1, pp.285-316. ISSN 1316-0087.

The concept of citizenship is a complex term historically marked by different uses and meanings. The purpose of this investigation is to achieve a more profound and complex approximation of the social representations that individuals have on citizenship, identify the definition and range that the term citizenship means to Venezuelans and determine how they perceive themselves in the exercise of that citizenship. The research was carried out in 2005, in the framework of the Seminar on Education and Citizenship, with Education students included in the Supervised University Studies  modality, Capital Region, of the UCV. It was basically carried out through the application and processing of questionnaires/surveys, with open questions. Among the results we can highlight the association of the meaning of citizenship with a sense of belonging to a country or society, and the close relationship between citizenship and values, among which stand respect and solidarity. The conditions for the exercise of citizenship pointed out by the people under study were economical, especially the right to employment, work and to a better acquisition level;  among the political conditions the right to choose and vote were highlighted, while in the social aspect the issues that were pointed out were the need for equity and participation.

Palabras clave : citizenship; social representation; values.