Asserts that the emphasis on explaining individual differences in political orientations among preadults accounts for "the disappointing contribution of political socialization research to political understanding." Argues that "possessing an explicit model of democratic citizenship would provide greater political meaning to empirical data."…

Examines the hypothesis that college has a substantial effect on political interest, awareness, and knowledge by comparing college students with a control group of noncollege cohorts. Finds that the effect of the passage of four years increases the awareness and knowledge of youth regardless of whether or not those years are spent in college.…

Identifies four major areas of recent investigations: cross-cultural studies of political socialization, the focus on the interactive nature of the individual in the process of learning about politics, the need to examine the comparative impacts of the various agencies of political socialization, and methodological and conceptual refinements.…