Report: Civic knowledge is the leading factor in political civic engagement

From the Intercollegiate Studies Institute report Enlightened Citizenship: How Civic Knowledge Trumps a College Degree in Promoting Active Civic Engagement

This is the fifth report to the nation issued by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute's (ISI) National Civic Literacy Board. While each past study has had a different point of emphasis, all share a common thread of examining the relationships that exist between higher education, civic knowledge, and citizenship. 

ISI asked its randomly selected sample of 2,508 Americans ten electoral questions to assess how engaged they were in electoral activities. With this data in hand, ISI employed multivariate regression analyses to determine the independent influence that earning a college degree, acquiring more civic knowledge, and other factors have on the political participation of American citizens.

Below are our findings.

• A College Degree Fails to Promote Active Civic Engagement Beyond Voting. 

• Greater Civic Knowledge Trumps a College Degree as the Leading Factor in Encouraging Active Civic Engagement

• Civic Self-Education Increases Active Civic Engagement; Video Games Detract

• Greater Civic Knowledge Discourages Elective Office Holding

Conclusion: The Successful Study of America's History and Institutions is the Key to Informed and Responsible Citizenship.

The mission of Activism Today is to educate and share the latest news on political civic engagement, an essential role of American citizenship.