"Generation DotNet:" A Contrast in Civic and Political Behavior

A Forum — March 21, 2003

Background

In September of 2002, a groundbreaking study of the nation’s civic life was released by CIRCLE (the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement), and the Pew Charitable Trusts. The report, The Civic and Political Health of the Nation: A Generational Portrait, analyzes a comprehensive survey of Americans’ civic and political behavior from voting to volunteering, chronicles the differences between generations, and takes the most in-depth look, to date, at the civic perspective and behavior of “Generation DotNet,” youth from 15 to 25 years of age. The report provides guidelines for measuring civic and political engagement by outlining 19 Core Indicators of Civic and Political Engagement. Copies of the report can be downloaded from CIRCLE’s Web site (www.civicyouth.org). At this forum, panelists described some of the most striking findings from the report, as well as trends in youth civic engagement from other sources.

Forum Summary

Carrie Donovan, Youth Director for CIRCLE, described the work that CIRCLE has been conducting. CIRCLE funds, conducts, and disseminates research on the civic engagement of American youth. The organization outlines best practices for promoting youth civic engagement and issues recommendations to foundations and government entities interested in promoting increased youth civic involvement.

Mark Lopez, Research Director for CIRCLE, provided a general overview of what is known about youth civic engagement. Data show changing priorities of college freshmen; today’s freshmen are more interested in making money and less interested in developing a personal philosophy than previous generations. However, volunteering is up; there has been a huge increase in the number of students saying they have volunteered in the last year. There are fewer liberals and more moderates among today’s college freshmen. Voter turnout has declined significantly and steadily since 1974 (with the exception of 1992). The youth share of the electorate has fallen as well.

Educational attainment and ethnic background are associated with rates of political participation and attitudes. For instance, among 18-24 year-olds, those with no college are less likely to turn out for elections. About half of white young adults think that they can make some or a little difference in their community; a smaller percentage of African American and Hispanic American students believe this. Trust in government is generally high. Fifty-five percent of young adults have an unfavorable view of mandatory youth service in high school; however, 81percent would be interested in the chance to perform service while earning money toward college tuition.

Scott Keeter, Associate Director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, and an author of CIRCLE’s recent research report, described the purposes of the research, its methodology, and some of its findings. The report sought to gain a better understanding of recent trends in youth civic and political engagement, and to improve the way we measure youth engagement. The data were gathered over two years though national surveys, focus groups, and interviews; the data he discussed at this forum came from a telephone survey of 3,246 individuals and compared the civic and political activity and attitudes of the DotNet generation with those of other generations.

The data indicate that the glass is either half-empty or half-full. On the two distinct modes of engagement used in the study, the civic and the political/electoral, today’s youth can be seen as increasingly disengaged from political life; however, they are participating in civic life. Over half of those ages 15 to 25 are disengaged from both forms of engagement. Fifteen percent are involved in electoral politics only; 17 percent are involved only in the civic mode; only 11percent are involved in both modes. Just 37 percent of DotNets claim to follow politics most of the time (compared with 60 percent of matures and 50 percent of Baby Boomers).

However, on many measures of civic engagement, young people are among the most active age group. For instance, the DotNets have the highest rates of volunteering; 40 percent have given time to a group in the past year, compared with 32 percent each for GenerationXers and Boomers and 22 percent for Matures. DotNets also compare favorably with Generation X and Boomers on measures of working together informally with someone or a group to solve a problem in the community where they live. They are just as likely to have participated in a walk, run, or bicycle event for a charity group.

The study found evidence that our actions can and do have a significant impact on the degree of engagement of young people. Having good role models at home makes a big difference; young adults who often heard political talk while growing up are much more involved in a host of activities. Having volunteer models at home made a big difference in DotNets’ civic and political engagement. There is also evidence that schools teach things that support engagement; 80 percent of high school students have given an oral report, 51 percent have taken part in persuasive debate or discussion, 38percent have written a letter on an issue to someone they do not know. Schools also encourage participation in group activity, and this participation makes a difference in later engagement. Schools encourage or require students to engage in service activities; 75 percent of high school students say their school arranges or requires service and 21 percent of schools require it. The rate of volunteering is higher when schools involve students in service activities. Youth were affected by more than families and schools. Most DotNet volunteers were involved because “someone else put us together” or they were recruited by a group. Being asked to volunteer, raise money for a charity, or participate in community problem-solving made a big difference in whether DotNets became involved; however, the DotNets were much less likely to be asked to work for or to contribute to a political party or candidate than other generations.

The DotNets are distinctive as a generation. They have a much stronger generational identification that other generations. They are more supportive of a larger role for government in regulation and social welfare, they have lower interpersonal trust, and greater acceptance of diversity. They are also less likely to believe that good citizenship entails responsibility.

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