| There is a growing body of work that supports the idea that service-learning is not only an effective way for students to learn or gain core academic skills and knowledge, but it is also an effective way to develop many of the skills and attitudes required of citizens in a democracy (Melchior, 1997). However, the quality of research on service learning is mixed (Conrad and Heiden, 1991). This dissertation is an empirical research study that examines the impact of participation in service-learning on the participants' civic attitudes and orientations.; The data for this study comes from two different surveys conducted by the Indiana Department of Education in 2000 and 2001. Both surveys were given in a pretest/posttest format so we could examine the changes in student attitudes, grades and knowledge over time. Surveys were also completed by students who were not engaged in service-learning. Both surveys had a similar design, and the control variables were all identically worded.; The questions used on these surveys are drawn primarily from survey questions in education, political science, and sociology. Most have been extensively pre-tested and are valid measures of the underlying concept examined.; Schoolwork can be artificial and have no real importance outside of the bounds of the school. In a service-learning project, students have the opportunity to accomplish something with real, often highly significant, effects on other people. The expectation is that civic behavior like service-learning will influence civic attitudes and the intention for future civic behavior.; First, I examine whether participation in service-learning can help students develop a greater sense of self-competence and political efficacy. Second, I explore whether participation in service-learning helps to develop social capital. Finally, I look at how participation in service-learning may influence students to be more community oriented and communitarian in their views.; The findings are statistically significant, suggesting that service-learning can be an antidote to the growing social disengagement. However, of equal interest, this study suggests that there are project specific factors that can mediate the impact of participation in service-learning. For example, the more leadership those students have in the process, the more that they develop the skills and attitudes of a citizen. |
