FEATURED: Civic Engagement and Educational Progress in Young Adulthood
by Andrea Finlay and Connie Flanagan
September 2009
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”
September 21st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
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September 22nd, 2009 at 5:14 am
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.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
is very nice, thanks
December 28th, 2009 at 11:59 am
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).
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:50 pm
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.
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:52 pm
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.
January 8th, 2010 at 11:59 am
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.
January 17th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
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.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Main purpose and choose to receive a good education.
February 4th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Civic engagement in young adulthood is quite necessary,thanks.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:14 am
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.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:08 am
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
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Education is key, the earlier the fundamment is set for educating our youth the further they will go.
March 4th, 2010 at 5:15 am
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.
March 9th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
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.
March 18th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
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.
April 3rd, 2010 at 9:18 am
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
April 20th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Youth educational background greatly influences their social involvements. In this way, they are more conscious of what actions they need to make.
May 3rd, 2010 at 4:19 pm
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.
May 20th, 2010 at 4:34 am
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.
June 7th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
But if you can get people to vote, I guess it doesn’t matter the platform.
June 9th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
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.
June 15th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
People in need are usually willing to give back to the community that did help them once they need it.
June 21st, 2010 at 5:50 am
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.
June 22nd, 2010 at 3:57 am
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.
June 25th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
[…] Civic Engagement and Educational Progress in Young Adulthood […]
June 25th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
As far my experience I know civic engagement helps in improving the progress in education.Thanks for this information.
June 29th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
people should give more to the society no matter to what ethnicity they belong to.
June 30th, 2010 at 6:36 am
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
July 26th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
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.