The Argument for Debate: A Multilevel Analysis of Extracurricular Activity Participation and College Matriculation

• In Event: Research Into Higher Education: Enrollment, Course Taking, and Dropping Out

Abstract

A large body of research indicates that student participation in extracurricular programs increases the likelihood of college matriculation. This research suggests that the structure of extracurricular activities in general – rather than the particular content of specific programs – drives this relationship. In contrast to this perspective, there is an emerging body of research that has focused on programs that are more academically oriented, redirecting the conversation from generalities to the specifics of extracurricular activities. Debate is one such program in that it develops skills that align well with many scholastic goals. This paper examines one relevant outcome in the research on extracurricular activities, college matriculation, and its association with debate when compared to participation in other programs.

Author

• Daniel Thomas Shackelford, Johns Hopkins University