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Politics In/Action: A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth Elizabeth Goering and Crystal Henderson Department of Communication Studies Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis International Association for Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE) Indianapolis, IN October 28-30, 2010

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Politics In/Action: A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth. Elizabeth Goering and Crystal Henderson Department of Communication Studies Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis International Association for Research on - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Politics In/Action:

A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

 

Elizabeth Goering and Crystal HendersonDepartment of Communication Studies

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis 

International Association for Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE)

Indianapolis, IN October 28-30, 2010

bgoering
Page 2: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Two assumptions undergird this research:

1. There is value in listening to the voices of youth

2. There is value in multi-cultural comparisons

Background Information

Page 3: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Conducted focus groups with youth ◦ N = 46

13 U.S. minority youth 12 U.S. non-minority youth 21 German youth

◦ 11-18 years of age (x̄ = 16.2)

Conducted thematic content analysis of focus group transcripts

Used Burke’s pentad to analyze specific stories of civic engagement drawn from focus group transcripts

Background Information—Methods

Page 4: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Research Question 1: What constitutes civic engagement?

Page 5: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Groups Civic Engagement Defined

Minority• Civic engagement is community service, giving back by

helping others. • It’s doing things to help others, coming together with a

group of people and “doing good” in the community.

NonMinority

• Coming together to “do something good” in your community

• Helping others by doing good things, but it “doesn’t benefit you.”

How do youth define civic engagement—U.S.?

Page 6: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Civic Engagement Defined

Civic engagement is “to care for nature, the environment, and to work to get along with people”.

“You care about society. You want to be well-educated and to learn to live in society—to work together with society.”

“An interest in what is happening politically. You would not just walk away from the politics.”

“Taking care of myself is part of being a good citizen. Being responsible, because the way I live affects other people.”

How do youth define civic engagement—Germany?

Page 7: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

What are seen as acts of civic engagement-U.S.?

Sponsor Act of Engagement Minority Youth

NonMinority

YouthEducation Affiliation 10 Required Hours of Service Learning

Color GuardNational Honor SocietyROTCStudent Council Grant Writing After-School Programs

X

Church Affiliation Clean Up Disaster AreasMission TripsVBS

X

Community Affiliation Grant Writing Community Center ProgramsMentoringPark Clean Up

X

Family &Friend Affiliation

Community & Park Clean Up*Julian Center** Helps on Uncle’s Farm**Cleaned Aunt’s House** Cleans Church for Grandmother**

X* X**

Self Affiliation Helped Stranger with Burning CarAm Vets, Salvation ArmyCollected Tabs for Ronald McDonald’s House & Yoplait Tabs

X

Judicial Affiliation Court-Ordered Community Service X

Page 8: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Local

GroupActs

Global

Individual Acts

Cleaned up Park Dance *1 & *2 Ministry *1

Can Food Drive Car Wash Fundraiser *1

Grant Writing School Community Projects *1

Volunteer at Homeless Shelter & Community Center *1

Participate in School Programs: Color Guard, ROTC, Student Council,National Honor Society *1 School Mandated 10 hours of SL *1

Community Mentor *1

Collected Yoplait Tabs for Ronald McDonald House *2

Donated to Am Vets, Goodwill,& Salvation Army *2Donated Toys *2Mowed Neighbor’s Yard *2Insured Friend’s Car *2Cleaned Aunt’s House *2Helped Stranger with Burning Car *2Helped out on Uncle’s Farm *2

Mission Trips *1

Cleaned up Disaster Area *2

Collected Yoplait Tabs for Breast Cancer Research *2

Page 9: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Acts of Engagement

Specific Examples

Volunteering Volunteer at food pantryVacation recreation program for people with disabilitiesTeaching in youth diving programTraining in youth soccer program

Philanthropic Giving “When I participate in mass, I also donate money.”Most youth don’t donate money.

Political Activism Participate in political events (similar to Rock the Vote)Participate in political protests & demonstrationsAnti-fascism protestsParticipate in strikesParticipate in demonstrations for better educationListen to protest musicSign online petitions

What acts are seen as acts of civic engagement—Germany?

Page 10: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Research Question 2:What factors promote or dissuade civic engagement among youth?

Page 11: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

What role do religious institutions play in fostering civic engagement—U.S.?

Membership affords opportunity & fosters collective orientation

Membership provides mentors & creates shared context for what it means to be civically engaged

Religious institutions influenced minority youth

Religious institution had no reported influence on non-minority youth

Page 12: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Religious organizations oversee philanthropic fundraising (i.e., Caritas, Brot für die Welt, Miserior)

Youth report limited involvement with religious institutions in Germany

What role do religious institutions play in fostering civic engagement—

Germany?

Page 13: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Provide opportunities, structure & context Encourage youth to excel Foster collective mindset Expose youth to different worldviews,

interpretations, and perspectives Educational institutions significantly influenced

minority youth In Contrast: Non-Minority Youth did NOT report

being significantly influenced by educational institutions

What role do educational institutions play in fostering civic engagement—

U.S.?

Page 14: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Schools provide the education that is seen as necessary for an engaged citizenry

Schools are a site for political education Schools do not provide opportunities for hands-on

civic engagement. Students report a desire for schools to do more:

“I think that the schools in Germany should do more to teach us what kinds of volunteer work there is in Germany.”

What role do educational institutions play in fostering civic engagement—

Germany?

Page 15: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Provide the context & structure for collaborative construction of norms which promote civic engagement

Assist youth in defining civic “priorities” Collective vs. Individualistic Acts of Engagement Global vs. Local C.E. Impact

What role do family and friends play in fostering civic engagement—U.S.?

Page 16: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

The limited volunteer activity reported by youth is directly linked to the influence of family and friends

Friends were identified as a reason for limited civic engagement among youth

What role do family and friends play in fostering civic engagement—Germany?

Page 17: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

What role do emerging technologies play in fostering civic engagement—U.S.?

Minority Youth Use Technology to Gather

Information: Local news National news International news

Use Technology in Practical Ways:

Get bus route information Employ Multiple Media:

Internet (MySpace, Facebook, Political Blogs, Online TV & Newspapers), TV & Newspapers

Utilize Cell Phone and Pager Functions:

To disseminate community alerts & opportunities across countries, peer groups & cultures

Non-Minority Youth Use Technology to Gather

Information: Local news Watch presidential &

gubernatorial debates Employ Multiple Media:

Internet : Play online games, download music & movies

Television Utilize Cell Phone

Technology to Gather Information: Text message friends about

social activities and relational matters

Page 18: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

Using technology to stay informed is seen as important• Television, newspapers, and radio identified as primary news sources

Youth report being aware of efforts to promote civic engagement and philanthropy through emerging technologies• They also report that they are not greatly influenced by these efforts

The internet was identified as a tool to disseminate information about demonstrations, etc.

What role do emerging technologies play in fostering civic engagement—

Germany?

Page 19: Politics In/Action:  A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that  Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

As we globalize civic engagement, we need to be aware of cultural differences in conceptualizations of what it means to be an engaged citizen

As we help students process international service learning experiences, we need to help them do so through the lens of sensitivity to those differences

Implications of findings for developing global civic engagment