CIRCLE (The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement)
conducts research on the civic and political engagement of young Americans.
The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement

FEATURED: Civic Engagement and Educational Progress in Young Adulthood

September 21st, 2009
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by Andrea Finlay and Connie Flanagan

September 2009book

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”

30 Responses to “FEATURED: Civic Engagement and Educational Progress in Young Adulthood”

  1. FEATURED: Civic Engagement and Educational Progress in Young Adulthood | LatNet.BIZ Internet Business News Says:

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  2. mange Says:

    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.

  3. halloween Says:

    is very nice, thanks

  4. Bigbuilding Says:

    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).

  5. electronic music reviews Says:

    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.

  6. Caller Says:

    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.

  7. Mark@School Grants Says:

    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.

  8. Camisas mujer Says:

    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.

  9. store Says:

    Main purpose and choose to receive a good education.

  10. clothing racks for sale Says:

    Civic engagement in young adulthood is quite necessary,thanks.

  11. Medical questions Says:

    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.

  12. Oklahoma Court Dockets Says:

    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

  13. spa nyc Says:

    Education is key, the earlier the fundamment is set for educating our youth the further they will go.

  14. Home Based Business Online Says:

    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.

  15. Joseph Taylor Says:

    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.

  16. Gene Haas Says:

    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.

  17. sputnik-tv Says:

    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

  18. Andrew Stone Says:

    Youth educational background greatly influences their social involvements. In this way, they are more conscious of what actions they need to make.

  19. rain boots Says:

    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.

  20. bobby Says:

    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.

  21. Gucci bags Says:

    But if you can get people to vote, I guess it doesn’t matter the platform.

  22. evden eve Says:

    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.

  23. Facebook Sluts Says:

    People in need are usually willing to give back to the community that did help them once they need it.

  24. Electric Griddle Says:

    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.

  25. Torrent Basket Says:

    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.

  26. CIRCLE reports on civic engagement « Connecting Learning to Life – Through Service Says:

    […] Civic Engagement and Educational Progress in Young Adulthood […]

  27. carpet cleaner review Says:

    As far my experience I know civic engagement helps in improving the progress in education.Thanks for this information.

  28. Facebooksex Says:

    people should give more to the society no matter to what ethnicity they belong to.

  29. sbs sonuçları Says:

    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

  30. babyannabellclothes.us Says:

    It stands to reason that today’s teens are considerably less concerned in and knowledgeable concerning civic life than were previous generations. i believe that this disengagement has severe ramifications for our society. however we should always attempt to be optimistic that the trend may be reversed by effective school-based civic education.