Experiencing New Hampshire: The Effects of an Experiential Learning Course on Civic Engagement

被引:23
作者
Elder, Laurel [1 ]
Seligsohn, Andrew [1 ]
Hofrenning, Daniel [2 ]
机构
[1] Hartwick Coll, Oneonta, NY 13820 USA
[2] St Olaf Coll, Northfield, MN 55057 USA
关键词
campaigns; experiential learning; New Hampshire; Presidential primary;
D O I
10.1080/15512160701338379
中图分类号
D0 [政治学、政治理论];
学科分类号
0302 ; 030201 ;
摘要
In January of 2004, we took 35 college students to Manchester, New Hampshire, where they were immersed in the crucial final weeks of the Democratic Presidential Primary as part of a course on the presidential election. This course required students to work on the campaign of their choice in the weeks leading up to the state's primary as well as take part in more traditional classroom academic activities. This article examines the impact of that political immersion experience on students' civic attitudes and engagements. While some hypothesized effects were not supported by the data, we do find a substantial impact on engagement and a modest effect on some measures of political efficacy. In light of the importance to a democratic society of engaging young people in the political process, we believe our research justifies greater experimentation with political immersion experiences and careful evaluation of the effects thereof.
引用
收藏
页码:191 / 216
页数:26
相关论文
共 23 条
[1]   THE DECLINE OF ELECTORAL-PARTICIPATION IN AMERICA [J].
ABRAMSON, PR ;
ALDRICH, JH .
AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE REVIEW, 1982, 76 (03) :502-521
[2]  
Astin AW, 1998, J COLL STUDENT DEV, V39, P251
[3]  
Astin AW, 1999, REV HIGH EDUC, V22, P187
[4]  
Barber B., 1992, ARISTOCRACY EVERYONE
[5]  
Dewey J., 1966, DEMOCRACY ED
[6]   Nurturing civic lives: Developmental perspectives on civic education - Introduction [J].
Dubnick, MJ .
PS-POLITICAL SCIENCE & POLITICS, 2003, 36 (02) :253-255
[7]  
Eisner Jane., 2004, TAKING BACK VOTE GET
[8]  
Flannigan William H., 2002, POLITICAL BEHAV AM E
[9]   The effects of campaign participation on political attitudes [J].
Freie, JF .
POLITICAL BEHAVIOR, 1997, 19 (02) :133-156
[10]   Civic education and political participation [J].
Galston, WA .
PS-POLITICAL SCIENCE & POLITICS, 2004, 37 (02) :263-266