THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE RELATED TO ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY CONCEPTS AMONG THE HUNGARIAN-SPEAKING POPULATION OF THE TISZAPÉTERFALVA MICRO-REGION BASED ON THE RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY

Abstract

The relevance of the research: During the 21st century, geography as a subject is undergoing significant transformation: the latest technologies, primarily GIS, enable a deeper understanding of the spatial relationships between socio-economic processes. Knowledge of geographical and spatial relationships facilitates a better understanding of current developments in the economy and society. The subject of the research: the knowledge of the Hungarian-speaking population of the Pyiterfolvo micro-region, with a focus on economic geography concepts. The purpose of the study: to assess the awareness level of the adult Hungarian population in the region regarding economic geography concepts, identify any deficiencies and their possible causes. Research methods: literature review, followed by questionnaire-based data collection through personal visits and interviewer assistance, as well as comparative and systematic analysis of the results. The results of the study: based on the findings of the research, it can be concluded that more than half of the respondents are familiar with three quarters of the concepts included in the questionnaire. However, in the case of five terms (cooperation, primary sector, secondary sector, export, industrial center), the proportion of correct answers remains below 50 percent. The best-known concepts are currency, interest, globalization, and inflation. Concerning the distribution of correct answers by gender, women outperform men in all but two concepts (capital and currency). Regarding the educational level of respondents who gave correct answers, their number is the highest among those with higher education. Practical significance: the results may contribute to the improvement and popularization of the subject of geography. Conclusions: the population of the studied microregion is mostly familiar with concepts related to economic geography, especially those that occur more frequently in everyday life and have a direct impact on individuals, such as inflation or globalization. However, concepts that rely more on school-based knowledge, such as the primary and secondary sectors, are known by significantly fewer people. Among the factors contributing to the selective preservation of definitions, the everyday use of concepts and the role of the media are particularly noteworthy. The prospect of further research: the study of knowledge related to other branches of geographical science, or the expansion of the spatial boundaries of research, exploring additional factors influencing residual geographical knowledge.