ERIC Number: EJ1130516
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1551-2169
EISSN: N/A
The Effect of Political Science Education on Political Trust and Interest: Results from a 5-Year Panel Study
Claes, Ellen; Hooghe, Marc
Journal of Political Science Education, v13 n1 p33-45 2017
Citizenship education has evolved substantially in recent decades, with a rapid proliferation of education forms and approaches. The currently available evaluation studies, however, do not allow us to determine what kind of approach can be considered as a best practice for schools and education systems. In this article, we rely on the results of a 5-year panel study to investigate the long-term effects of various forms of citizenship education. Using the Belgian Political Panel Survey (n = 3,025), a three-wave longitudinal panel survey of 16-, 18- and 21-year-old Belgian late adolescents and young adults, we determine which citizenship education effort (i.e., classroom instruction, being a member of a school council, and an open-classroom climate) has a long-term effect on political trust and political interest. The results suggest that classroom instruction, the presence of an open-classroom climate, and being a member of a school board are positively related to political trust. We also find that classroom instruction and being a member of a school board are significantly associated with higher levels of political interest. We close with some observations on what these findings imply for citizenship education policies.
Descriptors: Political Science, Politics, Trust (Psychology), Educational Environment, Surveys, Correlation, Foreign Countries, Citizenship Education, Longitudinal Studies, Adolescents, Young Adults, Boards of Education, Political Attitudes, Student Government, Student Participation, Teaching Methods, Educational Policy, Student Attitudes, Socialization, Hierarchical Linear Modeling, High School Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Belgium
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A