Valeurs, études, identité, quel rapport ?
The present master’s thesis is based on the notion of ―value‖ seen from the point of view of the relationship that every individual maintains with his or her action and, by extension, with others and with the social environment in which he or she evolves. In this context, the values tinge the relationship to studies likely to explain student identity. In this perspective, this master’s thesis establishes an analytical distinction between expressive and instrumental values. The values can be described as instrumental when they are a matter of a conception based on the relationship between means and end, whereas they are seen as expressive when they integrate ―feelings‖, or even symbols of personal achievement. This master’s thesis will study the values amongst students registered in medicine and in sociology. It can be suggested that instrumental values would be characteristic of future doctors, as opposed to student sociologists who would display expressive values. And yet, the analysis carried out within the framework of this master’s thesis demonstrates that if indeed there are differences as regards values between students of both subjects previously mentioned, they are far from being radical. In addition, we will discover that, in the school curricula examined within the context of this master’s thesis, student identity is from now on represented in terms of the school curriculum rather than in relation to a more general membership of the student status.
Students Studies Relation to studies Values Student identity