@article{ART003231678},
author={Park, Yun-Kyoung and KimJaegeun and Kim, Jihun and Sim, SoHyun},
title={Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts},
journal={Journal of Studies on Schools and Teaching},
issn={2508-156X},
year={2025},
volume={10},
number={2},
pages={215-244},
doi={10.23041/jsst.2025.10.2.009}
TY - JOUR
AU - Park, Yun-Kyoung
AU - KimJaegeun
AU - Kim, Jihun
AU - Sim, SoHyun
TI - Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts
JO - Journal of Studies on Schools and Teaching
PY - 2025
VL - 10
IS - 2
PB - Education Research Institute at CNUE
SP - 215
EP - 244
SN - 2508-156X
AB - This study’s aim was to analyze the difficulties faced by pre-service elementary teachers in understanding economic content knowledge in the context of social studies and to suggest ways to enhance social studies curriculum literacy. To achieve this, a convergent parallel mixed-methods approach was employed, involving surveys and focus group interview (FGI). The findings revealed that the main economic concepts that pre-service teachers found difficult included balance of payments, rational choice, scarcity, comparative advantage, entrepreneurship, GDP, and the market economy system. The patterns of these difficulties experienced by pre-service elementary teachers were categorized into three types: (1) difficulty in recognizing the meaning of a concept, (2) difficulty in explaining the meaning of a concept, and (3) difficulty in providing examples related to the concept. The contexts of these difficulties were analyzed in two dimensions: the characteristic of social studies knowledge (social studies context), and the lack of formal and informal learning experiences (learner context). Based on these findings, the study suggests several implications for improving social studies curriculum literacy in teacher education: strengthening content knowledge learning, fostering confidence through connections to everyday experiences, providing sequenced experiences of social studies concepts, and considering the dual identity of pre-service teachers as both teachers and higher education learners.
KW - social studies content knowledge;economic concepts;curriculum literacy;pre-service elementary teachers;difficulties in understanding content knowledge;mixed methods research
DO - 10.23041/jsst.2025.10.2.009
ER -
Park, Yun-Kyoung, KimJaegeun, Kim, Jihun and Sim, SoHyun. (2025). Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts. Journal of Studies on Schools and Teaching, 10(2), 215-244.
Park, Yun-Kyoung, KimJaegeun, Kim, Jihun and Sim, SoHyun. 2025, "Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts", Journal of Studies on Schools and Teaching, vol.10, no.2 pp.215-244. Available from: doi:10.23041/jsst.2025.10.2.009
Park, Yun-Kyoung, KimJaegeun, Kim, Jihun, Sim, SoHyun "Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts" Journal of Studies on Schools and Teaching 10.2 pp.215-244 (2025) : 215.
Park, Yun-Kyoung, KimJaegeun, Kim, Jihun, Sim, SoHyun. Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts. 2025; 10(2), 215-244. Available from: doi:10.23041/jsst.2025.10.2.009
Park, Yun-Kyoung, KimJaegeun, Kim, Jihun and Sim, SoHyun. "Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts" Journal of Studies on Schools and Teaching 10, no.2 (2025) : 215-244.doi: 10.23041/jsst.2025.10.2.009
Park, Yun-Kyoung; KimJaegeun; Kim, Jihun; Sim, SoHyun. Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts. Journal of Studies on Schools and Teaching, 10(2), 215-244. doi: 10.23041/jsst.2025.10.2.009
Park, Yun-Kyoung; KimJaegeun; Kim, Jihun; Sim, SoHyun. Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts. Journal of Studies on Schools and Teaching. 2025; 10(2) 215-244. doi: 10.23041/jsst.2025.10.2.009
Park, Yun-Kyoung, KimJaegeun, Kim, Jihun, Sim, SoHyun. Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts. 2025; 10(2), 215-244. Available from: doi:10.23041/jsst.2025.10.2.009
Park, Yun-Kyoung, KimJaegeun, Kim, Jihun and Sim, SoHyun. "Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers’ Difficulties with Social Studies Content Knowledge: A Focus on Economic Concepts" Journal of Studies on Schools and Teaching 10, no.2 (2025) : 215-244.doi: 10.23041/jsst.2025.10.2.009
