Date of Award
4-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Political Science
First Advisor
Patrick Donnay
Abstract
Even though the United States had historically high voter turnout in 2008 and 2012, there remains troubling patterns pertaining to political engagement and knowledge among its least educated youth. The literature and theory suggests that if the United States educational systems increase the amount of civic education courses, extracurricular activity, and youth volunteering opportunities in high schools, especially among the most disadvantaged youth, it will lead to an increase in political knowledge and engagement. I test this idea with data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) post-2012 election youth survey. The CIRCLE data set looks at 4,483 cases and takes 511 variables into account. Tentative results show that civic education does have an effect on varying demographics, including different racial and ethnic groups, along with those with low socioeconomic statuses as well. These results confirm that civic education enhances democratic values most dramatically among more disadvantaged groups.
Recommended Citation
Langer, Laura, "Strengthening Democracy by Increasing Youth Political Knowledge and Engagement" (2015). Political Science Theses and Capstones. 100.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/capstone-polisci/100
Included in
American Politics Commons, American Studies Commons, Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Educational Sociology Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Other Education Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Public Affairs Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons, Secondary Education Commons
