Abstract:

The contribution is part of a broader research project focused on the quality of study motivation in contexts characterized by organized crime, particularly in Camorra environments, an organization akin to the mafia. This phenomenon pervades urban settings in a complex and layered entity, where roles and hierarchies intertwine within a social fabric marked by poverty and disorder.

Adopting a hermeneutic-phenomenological and ecological perspective, the research aims to deeply explore and understand how students comprehend and give meaning to their educational experiences, considering both internal, personal aspects and external, environmental factors that influence the educational process.

The study will investigate how these risk factors serve as educational obstacles and adversely impact students' interest in formal education, with the objective of proposing intervention strategies to promote new and meaningful learning opportunities and educational relationships. These strategies are aimed at redefining children and adolescents' engagement with their studies. A Mixed Methods research approach was selected, beginning with an exploratory quantitative survey and subsequently followed by a qualitative in-depth analysis. The research is organized into three distinct phases, each with specific tools and outputs. Initially, the exploratory phase focuses on the collection and quantitative analysis of data, starting with the aggregation of existing statistical data to map the Pianura territory, and secondly, utilizing a questionnaire (Study Motivation Questionnaire - Amos 8-15' scale) to examine the study motivation characteristic of the reference sample. This aims to identify the motivational patterns of students in contexts influenced by organized crime. Subsequently, in the intermediate phase, thematic areas and questions for interviews will be defined. This phase is based on the results obtained from the first quantitative phase, which will guide the collection of qualitative data. The main methodologies in this phase include individual interviews and focus groups. Analysis of these qualitative data will utilize Grounded Theory. The final phase is dedicated to the integration and interpretation of results obtained from both quantitative and qualitative research. The selected sample includes a group of children and adolescents, ranging in age from 8 to 13 years, who are engaged in an extracurricular project named “Integra” situated in the Pianura neighborhood (NA). This area is particularly known for issues related to juvenile delinquency and the presence of organized crime. This contribution intends to report the data obtained in the first phase of the research.

Keywords:

Study Motivation, Organized Crime, Hermeneutic-Phenomenological Approach, Ecological Perspective, Mixed Methods Research.