The merlí effect: Television and choice of philosophy related degrees

Abstract

Following a consolidated research line on the effects of TV on academic choices and aspirations, we study the case of Merlí TV series and its possible impact on the adolescents' preferences for philosophy degrees in Catalonia. Official statistics seem to confirm the increasing number of enrolments and applications in philosophy degrees between 2015 and 2016, although our exploratory analyses (study 1) find it difficult to unequivocally attribute this change to the series. Waiting for more robust quantitative analyses on this issue, we provide a complementary qualitative approach (study 2), through online questionnaires with open questions, to know the perception that the newly admitted students in philosophy degrees in Catalan universities have about this issue. These students consider that Merlí did not influenced their personal decision, but that it has improved the social value of philosophy. We discuss future lines of research on the indirect effects of this more positive environment.