Getting Involved: Political Socialization on American College Campuses

• In Event: Surviving and Thriving in the College Context

Abstract

Given the current emphasis on promotion of civic engagement through education policy, a better understanding of the mechanisms driving student political engagement is necessary. While existing literature in sociology and education documents student political behavior, the reasons that students participate in political activities are underrepresented in the research. This paper uses data from the Higher Education Research Institute’s 1999 College Senior Survey to examine predictors of political engagement among American college students, applying political socialization theory to existing education literature on civic engagement. Ordered probit regression analysis results support the hypothesis that participation in voluntary organizations on college campuses leads to increased student political engagement with substantial variation across type of organization.

Author

• Jessica Mason, University of Pittsburgh