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ERIC Number: EJ865798
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Aug
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1367-6261
EISSN: N/A
Social Networks and the Development of Political Interest
Dostie-Goulet, Eugenie
Journal of Youth Studies, v12 n4 p405-421 Aug 2009
The recent decline in voter turnout, a trend largely attributed to lack of youth participation, has focused the attention of many scholars on the study of young people and politics. While great strides have been made in understanding youth disengagement, one dimension of the field that remains understudied is the development of political interest. This research begins to address this gap by evaluating one specific influence, the social network. Using a panel of 499 Quebec teenagers surveyed annually for three years, this study considers how political interest is affected by political discussion among a teenager's parents, friends and teachers. As one might expect, analysis of the data confirmed that parents who often discuss politics have children who are more interested in politics and who are more likely to develop political interest. The effect of other agents of socialization, however, should not be underestimated. Friends were often found to be on par with parents concerning their influence on change in political interest, and results concerning teachers suggest that some classes, history in this case, can play an important civic role. (Contains 7 tables and 8 notes.)
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A