Survey Data on Perception of poverty and wealth among university students
Description
This dataset explores the social representations of "poverty" and "wealth" among university students in southern Sonora, Mexico. Using Natural Semantic Networks as a methodological tool, the data identifies mental associations and social labels linked to these concepts. The analysis provides insights into how socioeconomic conditions shape students' perceptions and educational opportunities. The dataset includes frequency tables and semantic weight (M-values) that highlight both common perceptions and significant contrasts in the hierarchy of meanings assigned by the participants.
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Research was conducted with the following characteristics: a quantitative type, with a descriptive scope, a non-experimental design, and a cross-sectional approach, analyzing a deductive and logical scheme of the respondents' perspectives. The analysis through natural semantic networks allowed for the identification that the perception of 'Poverty' is strongly linked to concepts such as shortage, necessity, and inequality, with a J-Value of 4,603. On the other hand, 'Wealth' is primarily associated with money, abundance, and luxury, with a J-Value of 4,676. The discussion of these data is based on a comparison with previous theoretical frameworks (Denegri et al., 2010; Gómez & Silas, 2011), validating that the social representations of university students reflect the economic tensions of their immediate environment. The data presented here not only quantify perceptions but also map the structure of the economic thought of future professionals. The importance of this dataset for the scientific community lies in its ability to identify 'critical nodes' of social thought, such as the association of wealth with 'power' or poverty with a 'lack of education.' These findings are fundamental for the design of educational public policies and socio-university intervention programs that seek to mitigate social apathy and foster a more equitable and critical economic culture. Unlike traditional surveys, this dataset allows for the observation of 'semantic distance' (FMG Value), which reveals how close concepts such as 'corruption' or 'effort' are to the central idea of economic success. This database serves as a reference point for longitudinal studies seeking to measure how students' social representations change as they progress in their professional training or in response to changes in the political-economic landscape of Mexico.