TY - JOUR
T1 - Methodological lessons learned from conducting civic education research in high schools
AU - Matto, Elizabeth C.
AU - Vercellotti, Timothy
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - With the growing size of the 'Millennial Generation' and its potential impact on American democracy, the civic education of this cohort deserves study. Using news media and discussion of politics at home and in the classroom at four public high schools in New Jersey, we conducted an experiment to measure changes in media use, political knowledge, and political efficacy. Although the experiment generated useful substantive findings, we also learned important lessons about the challenges associated with conducting research in high schools. We present suggestions to aid in studying a crucial segment of the population: adolescents who are on the cusp of entering the electorate.
AB - With the growing size of the 'Millennial Generation' and its potential impact on American democracy, the civic education of this cohort deserves study. Using news media and discussion of politics at home and in the classroom at four public high schools in New Jersey, we conducted an experiment to measure changes in media use, political knowledge, and political efficacy. Although the experiment generated useful substantive findings, we also learned important lessons about the challenges associated with conducting research in high schools. We present suggestions to aid in studying a crucial segment of the population: adolescents who are on the cusp of entering the electorate.
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U2 - 10.1017/S1049096512000820
DO - 10.1017/S1049096512000820
M3 - Article
SN - 1049-0965
VL - 45
SP - 728
EP - 735
JO - PS - Political Science and Politics
JF - PS - Political Science and Politics
IS - 4
ER -