Politics In/Action: A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth

1. Politics In/Action: A Multicultural Comparison of Factors that Cultivate Civic Engagement among Youth Elizabeth Goering and Crystal Henderson Department of Communication Studies Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis International Association for Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE) Indianapolis, IN October 28-30, 2010

2. Background Information Two assumptions undergird this research: • There is value in listening to the voices of youth • There is value in multi-cultural comparisons

3. Background Information—Methods • Conducted focus groups with youth • N = 46 • 13 U.S. minority youth • 12 U.S. non-minority youth • 21 German youth • 11-18 years of age (x̄ = 16.2) • Conducted thematic content analysis of focus group transcripts • Used Burke’s pentad to analyze specific stories of civic engagement drawn from focus group transcripts

4. Research Question 1: What constitutes civic engagement?

5. How do youth define civic engagement—U.S.?

6. How do youth define civic engagement—Germany?

7. What are seen as acts of civic engagement-U.S.?

8. Cleaned up Park Dance *1 & *2 Ministry *1 Can Food Drive Car Wash Fundraiser *1 Grant Writing School Community Projects *1 Volunteer at Homeless Shelter & Community Center *1 Participate in School Programs: Color Guard, ROTC, Student Council, National Honor Society *1 School Mandated 10 hours of SL *1Community Mentor *1 Group Acts Mission Trips *1 Cleaned up Disaster Area *2 Local Global Collected Yoplait Tabs for Ronald McDonald House *2 Donated to Am Vets, Goodwill, & Salvation Army *2 Donated Toys *2 Mowed Neighbor’s Yard *2 Insured Friend’s Car *2 Cleaned Aunt’s House *2 Helped Stranger with Burning Car *2 Helped out on Uncle’s Farm *2 Collected Yoplait Tabs for Breast Cancer Research *2 Individual Acts

9. What acts are seen as acts of civic engagement—Germany?

10. Research Question 2: What factors promote or dissuade civic engagement among youth?

11. What role do religious institutions play in fostering civic engagement—U.S.? • Membership affords opportunity & fosters collective orientation • Membership provides mentors & creates shared context for what it means to be civically engaged • Religious institutions influenced minority youth • Religious institution had no reported influence on non-minority youth

12. What role do religious institutions play in fostering civic engagement—Germany? • Religious organizations oversee philanthropic fundraising (i.e., Caritas, Brotfür die Welt, Miserior) • Youth report limited involvement with religious institutions in Germany

13. What role do educational institutions play in fostering civic engagement—U.S.? • Provide opportunities, structure & context • Encourage youth to excel • Foster collective mindset • Expose youth to different worldviews, interpretations, and perspectives • Educational institutions significantly influenced minority youth • In Contrast: Non-Minority Youth did NOT report being significantly influenced by educational institutions

14. What role do educational institutions play in fostering civic engagement—Germany? • Schools provide the education that is seen as necessary for an engaged citizenry • Schools are a site for political education • Schools do not provide opportunities for hands-on civic engagement. • Students report a desire for schools to do more: “I think that the schools in Germany should do more to teach us what kinds of volunteer work there is in Germany.”

15. What role do family and friends play in fostering civic engagement—U.S.? • Provide the context & structure for collaborative construction of norms which promote civic engagement • Assist youth in defining civic “priorities” • Collective vs. Individualistic Acts of Engagement • Global vs. Local C.E. Impact

16. What role do family and friends play in fostering civic engagement—Germany? • The limited volunteer activity reported by youth is directly linked to the influence of family and friends • Friends were identified as a reason for limited civic engagement among youth

17. What role do emerging technologies play in fostering civic engagement—U.S.? Minority Youth • Use Technology to Gather Information: • Local news • National news • International news • Use Technology in Practical Ways: • Get bus route information • Employ Multiple Media: • Internet (MySpace, Facebook, Political Blogs, Online TV & Newspapers), TV & Newspapers • Utilize Cell Phone and Pager Functions: • To disseminate community alerts & opportunities across countries, peer groups & cultures Non-Minority Youth • Use Technology to Gather Information: • Local news • Watch presidential & gubernatorial debates • Employ Multiple Media: • Internet : Play online games, download music & movies • Television • Utilize Cell Phone Technology to Gather Information: • Text message friends about social activities and relational matters

18. What role do emerging technologies play in fostering civic engagement—Germany? • Using technology to stay informed is seen as important • Television, newspapers, and radio identified as primary news sources • Youth report being aware of efforts to promote civic engagement and philanthropy through emerging technologies • They also report that they are not greatly influenced by these efforts • The internet was identified as a tool to disseminate information about demonstrations, etc.

19. Implications of findings for developing global civic engagment • As we globalize civic engagement, we need to be aware of cultural differences in conceptualizations of what it means to be an engaged citizen • As we help students process international service learning experiences, we need to help them do so through the lens of sensitivity to those differences