JP2 GENERATION. REALITY OR MASS MEDIA ARTEFACT? (in the light of University of Lódz student research project)

In the last few years the interest of social sciences in an individual human life has been growing. More and more qualitative researches of a biographical character have been published presenting the subjective perception and understanding of the world of values and experiences. The aim of this article is to present the outcome of research 'Global and personal events' conducted as a part of the international project led by Professor Lani Bayle form University of Nantes. The aim is to show different areas of social life, especially these which deeply penetrate the life of each individual. In February 2006 the project, surveying 97 people who study pedagogy at the University of Lódz, was initiated. The students were asked to perform the test of unfinished statements. The death of Pope John Paul II (JPII) and students reactions to his death inspired the authoress to run a second stage of research described in the article. Thirty three students answered the questions: Does the JPII generation really exist? Or is it a product of mass media? Do you identify yourself as belonging to JPII generation? The students answering the survey can be classified into one of the three groups:1. students thinking that JPII generation is merely a product of mass media (18 students); 2. students assuming that JPII generation is the tangible reality of their life (13 students); 3. students noticing the significance of mass media, at the same time emphasizing the fact that media helped to amplify something what would exist without the media's contribution (2 students)