Factors Shaping the Historical Consciousness of Pupils, Students and Teachers in Czech Schools

This study presents the partial results of empirical research on historical consciousness among pupils, students and teachers in Czech schools implemented in 2011. Mixed qualitative and quantitative research was performed (focus groups, questionnaires, in-depth interview) with a group of 2524 respondents from 9 regions in the Czech Republic. This article clarifies its theoretical and methodological basis, and presents findings related to the factors shaping historical consciousness, especially incentives leading to interest in history, preferred sources of information about history, subjective evaluation of influences determining the development of human history, and respondents’ concepts of historical development. Research results are being compared with the results of previous studies, including international studies.