The Relation Between Civic Education and Political Attitudes and Behavior: A Two-Year Panel Study Among Belgian Late Adolescents
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It is generally assumed that civic education efforts will have a positive effect on the political attitudes and behaviors of adolescents and young adults. In the present study, we distinguish among formal civic education, an open classroom climate, and active learning strategies, and we explore their relation with political interest, efficacy, trust, and participation. To analyze these relations, we rely on the results of a two-year panel study among late adolescents in Belgium. The results indicate that formal civic education (classroom instruction) and active learning strategies (school council membership and, to a lesser extent, group projects) are positively related to political attitudes and behavior. An open classroom climate, on the other hand, is significantly related to political trust. We conclude that there is no reason to privilege specific forms of civic education, as each form relates to different relevant political attitudes and behaviors.
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The intersection between civic education and political attitudes and behaviour is important for young people, as demonstrated generally in many studies (Dassonneville et al., 2012).
“How important the intersection between civic education and political attitudes and behaviour is for young people has been demonstrated generally in many studies (Dassonneville et al., 2012).”
From Lowering the Voting Age to 16 in Practice: Processes and Outcomes Compared (2021) · cites this paper as Dassonneville et al., 2012
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Lowering the Voting Age to 16 in Practice: Processes and Outcomes Compared
Eichhorn, J., & Bergh, J. (2021) · Parliamentary Affairs · doi:10.1093/pa/gsab019 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
“How important the intersection between civic education and political attitudes and behaviour is for young people has been demonstrated generally in many studies (Dassonneville et al., 2012).”
Background
- Authors
- Dassonneville, R., Quintelier, E., Hooghe, M., & Claes, E.
- Affiliations
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Dassonneville, Ruth
- Venue
- Applied Developmental Science
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-07
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 140-150
- ISSN
- 1088-8691 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-480X
- OpenAlex
- W2049131420
- Cited by
- 127
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 17.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- Applied Developmental Science (publishedVersion)
- Papyrus : Institutional Repository (Université de Montréal) (submittedVersion)
- Lirias (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Citizenship Education and Democracy
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Educator Training and Historical Pedagogy
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Electoral Systems and Political Participation
- Keywords
- citizenship education, political attitudes, political behavior, late adolescence, political interest, political efficacy, public trust in government, political participation, classroom climate, active learning methodologies, group projects, Belgium
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