by Andrea Finlay and Connie Flanagan
September 2009
In CIRCLE working paper (#67) and factsheet “Civic Engagement and Educational Progress in Young Adulthood”, the authors find that young adults (those between the ages of 16 and 30 at baseline) who make academic progress over a four-year period are also more likely to participate in civic activities such as voting, volunteering, and accessing social media to discuss current events. This relationship holds for young adults from low-income backgrounds as well as high-income backgrounds.
The authors note that some groups are more likely than others to make educational progress over the four years. They find that low-income youths who make academic progress over the four years are more likely to participate in sustained engagement, such as volunteering and voting, than low-income youths who make no educational progress. In addition, disadvantaged youths who make educational progress are more likely to access media for information on current events. The authors note that factors such as divorce and having young children are especially disadvantageous in furthering educational progress. African-American, Hispanic and American-Indian youths are less likely to make educational progress than any other racial group; they are also more likely to come from families with lower incomes.
The authors propose several interpretations of their findings: educational progress may lead to higher levels of engagement; sustained service may link young adults to opportunities and mentors that assist them in continuing their education; and more motivated young adults may be more likely to continue their education and get engaged in civic affairs.
* Download CIRCLE Working Paper #67 “Making Educational Progress: Links to Civic Engagement During the Transition to Adulthood”
* Download CIRCLE fact sheet “Civic Engagement and Educational Progress in Young Adulthood”
Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement
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This study only proves that education background of youth influences their participation in different civic groups. They become more aware as they grasp enough knowledge about particular issues around them.
is very nice, thanks
Though commonly associated with schooling, civic education is not the exclusive domain of schools.
But understanding civic education, especially democratic education, can, and should, involve both formal settings (schools) and informal settings (families, communities, libraries, houses of worship and so on).
Is the urge to attend more civil functions linked with the urge to be more educated? If so, it makes absolute sense that those that make educational progress would then also desire to participate in civil activities more than those those not interested in learning.
electronic, I would agree that the two are probably linked. The desire for education and civic engagement seem to go hand in hand. But as this is not my expertise, I could be wrong.
Since they are studying, their social awareness increases that can boost their interest to serve the people around them. Also, their experiences in life help them to have that kind of mindset.
Civic education is linked with the education of knowledge. The most disadvantaged are those who blame the lack of both, but not the only ones. And sometimes for other reasons, those who have more financial power, suggest his citizenship.
Main purpose and choose to receive a good education.
Civic engagement in young adulthood is quite necessary,thanks.
Great post!I would agree that the two are probably linked. The desire for education and civic engagement seem to go hand in hand. But as this is not my expertise, I could be wrong.
Its a good research about the behavior of youth that are more inclined to participate in civic activities, the authors found a positive relationship. I think we need to create mass awareness program for this purpose, then we can find more effective results. Thanks
Education is key, the earlier the fundamment is set for educating our youth the further they will go.
Interesting article! I have downloaded the paper. I think education is linked to the interest in civic activities. I think that the young who are more educated are more willing to participate in civil activities.
We should maintain our social awareness so we can easily reach out in the needs of other people. In that way, we can also make use of those observations to build a much better way of thinking towards something or making decision in life.
I have always though there was a strong correlation between higher education and people’s involvement in voting and political campaigns. Simply put lower education, such as high school, doesn’t put much focus on political matters. So we now have a certain generation of young people who couldn’t care less because they were never taught to in school.
Civic education is linked with the education of knowledge. the earlier the fundamment is set for educating our youth the further they will go. I would agree that the two are probably linked
Youth educational background greatly influences their social involvements. In this way, they are more conscious of what actions they need to make.
We need to do something in order to support the Youth of today for their dreams. In a way that we should think that their knowledge from school will really change the way how they think.
This study only proves that education background of youth influences their participation in different civic groups. They become more aware as they grasp enough knowledge about particular issues around them.
But if you can get people to vote, I guess it doesn’t matter the platform.
Hi .. We should maintain our social awareness so we can easily reach out in the needs of other people. In that way, we can also make use of those observations to build a much better way of thinking towards something or making decision in life.
People in need are usually willing to give back to the community that did help them once they need it.
Well written article, and I already knew that some groups are more likely than others (since we are all different) to make educational progress over the years. I hope the plan would work well.
It stands to reason that today’s young people are significantly less involved in and knowledgeable about civic life than were previous generations. I think that this disengagement has severe ramifications for our society. But we should try to be optimistic that the trend can be reversed by effective school-based civic education.
[…] Civic Engagement and Educational Progress in Young Adulthood […]
As far my experience I know civic engagement helps in improving the progress in education.Thanks for this information.
people should give more to the society no matter to what ethnicity they belong to.
We need to do something in order to support the Youth of today for their dreams. In a way that we should think that their knowledge from school will really change the way how they think
Not that I’m totally impressed, but this is a lot more than I expected for when I stumbled upon a link on Stumble Upon telling that the info is quite decent. Thanks.
Civic engagement & civic activity closely affects the educational progress,there’s no doubt about it.But your way of explaining the reason behind it is excellent.Thanks for it.
Hello..We should maintain our social awareness so we can easily reach out in the needs of other people. In that way, we can also make use of those observations to build a much better way of thinking towards something or making decision in life..respect admin
Hi..This study only proves that education background of youth influences their participation in different civic groups. They become more aware as they grasp enough knowledge about particular issues around them.respect.
For me this finding is not surprising! Those who seek to educate beyond the minimum years are also actively interested in the social status of their community and also engage in wider politics. They also would be socially more active than the young people who choose to take another route such as early entry workforce and or family. Those who are actively involved find that their knowledge or personal experience play a significant role in how they approach their study, what views they adopt and also an increased sense of maturity and intellectual independence.