The Relation between Civic Education and Political Attitudes and Behavior: A Two-Year Panel Study among Belgian Late Adolescents
Dassonneville, Ruth; Quintelier, Ellen; Hooghe, Marc; Claes, Ellen
Applied Developmental Science, v16 n3 p140-150 2012
It is generally assumed that civic education efforts will have a positive effect on the political attitudes and behaviors of adolescents and young adults. In the present study, we distinguish among formal civic education, an open classroom climate, and active learning strategies, and we explore their relation with political interest, efficacy, trust, and participation. To analyze these relations, we rely on the results of a two-year panel study among late adolescents in Belgium. The results indicate that formal civic education (classroom instruction) and active learning strategies (school council membership and, to a lesser extent, group projects) are positively related to political attitudes and behavior. An open classroom climate, on the other hand, is significantly related to political trust. We conclude that there is no reason to privilege specific forms of civic education, as each form relates to different relevant political attitudes and behaviors. (Contains 4 tables and 9 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Citizenship Education, Foreign Countries, Political Attitudes, Adolescent Attitudes, School Councils, Student Empowerment, Citizen Participation, Student Participation, Student Attitudes, Classroom Environment, Hypothesis Testing, Correlation, Participative Decision Making, Trust (Psychology), Gender Differences, Statistical Significance, Instruction, Educational Strategies, Student Surveys, Active Learning, Young Adults, Learning Strategies
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
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