This study was designed to help those persons developing
and delivering consumer education curriculum understand the
needs of Middlesex, Virginia High School Students. The
instrument used was a consumer knowledge survey developed
by a partnership between the Consumer Federation of
American and American Express. The 52 item questionnaire
was designed to measure knowledge in six key areas of
consumption-consumer credit, checking/savings accounts,
automobile insurance, housing rental, food purchase, and
automobile purchase.
The respondents were students attending Middlesex High
School from the four grade levels with completed Informed
Consent forms. There were 55 respondents from a total pool
of 375 (freshmen, 44%; sophomores, 27%; juniors, 13%; and
seniors, 16%).
Descriptive statistics were used for demographic items.
Non-statistical comparisons were made between grade levels,
descriptive demographic characteristics, and consumer
categories. Comparisons were also made between the data
collected and the data of the national consumer knowledge
survey by the Consumer Federation of America and American
Express Company.
The results indicate that Middlesex High School students
were not well prepared for the world of consumption.
Overall, the students who responded had limited
understanding of consumer knowledge in the six specific
areas. The average score was 39%. Students had the
poorest understanding of consumer credit, auto insurance,
and food purchases. Scores for these category areas
averaged less than 40%. The students scored highest on
housing rental (45%) and checking/savings accounts (44%).
The seniors scored the highest overall score (48%), which
was higher than the national average of high school seniors
(42%).
