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The Generational Portrait The Generational Portrait StudyStudy
A Source for Indicators of A Source for Indicators of
Civic Life SkillsCivic Life Skills
The Civic and Political Health of The Civic and Political Health of the Nation: the Nation:
A Generational PortraitA Generational Portrait
Funded by a grant from The Pew Charitable Funded by a grant from The Pew Charitable TrustsTrusts
Project Overview: Two Key GoalsProject Overview: Two Key Goals
To assess the civic health of the To assess the civic health of the American public, with a focus on American public, with a focus on youthyouth
To develop a compact, valid, and To develop a compact, valid, and reliable set of survey-based reliable set of survey-based indicators of civic and political indicators of civic and political engagementengagement
Project Phases and ScheduleProject Phases and Schedule
Spring 2001: “expert panels” with Spring 2001: “expert panels” with activists, organizers, academicsactivists, organizers, academics
Summer 2001: focus groups with citizens Summer 2001: focus groups with citizens of all ages (and one after 9/11)of all ages (and one after 9/11)
Fall 2001 and winter 2002: extensive Fall 2001 and winter 2002: extensive survey pretestingsurvey pretesting
Spring 2002: two national surveysSpring 2002: two national surveys Summer 2002: confirming focus groupsSummer 2002: confirming focus groups
Today’s Summary of FindingsToday’s Summary of Findings
Levels of engagement and types of Levels of engagement and types of citizenscitizens
Generational comparisonsGenerational comparisons
Cast of CharactersCast of Characters
DotNet cohort: age 15-25DotNet cohort: age 15-25Born 1977-1987Born 1977-1987
GenX cohort: age 26-37GenX cohort: age 26-37Born 1965-1976Born 1965-1976
Baby Boomer cohort: age 38-56Baby Boomer cohort: age 38-56Born 1946-1964Born 1946-1964
Mature cohort: age 57 +Mature cohort: age 57 +Born before 1946 Born before 1946
Activities of InterestActivities of Interest
Selected 19 specific behaviors to Selected 19 specific behaviors to measure in the surveymeasure in the survey
For most behaviors, respondents For most behaviors, respondents were asked about lifetime incidence were asked about lifetime incidence and the past 12 monthsand the past 12 months
Survey also measured a range of Survey also measured a range of attitudes and experiencesattitudes and experiences
The Dimensions of EngagementThe Dimensions of Engagement
Many different ways in which citizens can Many different ways in which citizens can be active in the society and the politybe active in the society and the polity
Patterns of activity fell into four key Patterns of activity fell into four key dimensions:dimensions:– CivicCivic activity activity – Electoral Electoral activityactivity– Political voicePolitical voice– Underlying all of these:Underlying all of these:
AttentivenessAttentiveness
Civic ActivityCivic Activity(organized voluntary activity focused on (organized voluntary activity focused on
problem solving and helping others)problem solving and helping others)
Regular volunteering for a non-Regular volunteering for a non-electoral organizationelectoral organization
Working with others to solve a Working with others to solve a community problemcommunity problem
Raising money for charityRaising money for charity Belonging to groupsBelonging to groups
Civic ActivityCivic Activity
14%
21%
23%
31%
31%
0% 10% 20% 30%
Engaged in a walk or run to raise money
Worked to solve a community problem
Regularly volunteer for at least onenonelectoral organization
Worked to raise money for a charity
Active member of at least one group ororganization
All DotNet
Civic ActivityCivic Activity
14%
21%
23%
31%
31%
16%
21%
22%
28%
22%
0% 10% 20% 30%
Engaged in a walk or run to raise money
Worked to solve a community problem
Regularly volunteer for at least onenonelectoral organization
Worked to raise money for a charity
Active member of at least one group ororganization
All DotNet
Electoral ActivityElectoral Activity
6%
13%
26%
33%
50%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Volunteered for a candidate or politicalorganization
Contributed money to candidate, party, orgroup
Displays campaign button, sticker, sign
Tries to persuade others how to vote
Always vote (or intend to always vote)
All DotNet
Electoral ActivityElectoral Activity
6%
13%
26%
33%
50%
3%
4%
20%
36%
32%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Volunteered for a candidate or politicalorganization
Contributed money to candidate, party, orgroup
Displays campaign button, sticker, sign
Tries to persuade others how to vote
Always vote (or intend to always vote)
All DotNet
Political VoicePolitical Voice
Signing petitions (written and e-mail)Signing petitions (written and e-mail) Contacting public officialsContacting public officials Contacting the media or calling in to Contacting the media or calling in to
a talk showa talk show ProtestingProtesting CanvassingCanvassing Boycotting or buycottingBoycotting or buycotting
Expressions of Political VoiceExpressions of Political Voice
3%
4%
8%
10%
12%
18%
23%
35%
38%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
Canvassed
Protested
Contacted talk show
Contacted media
Electronic petition
Contacted an official
Written petition
Buycotted
Boycotted
All DotNet
Expressions of Political VoiceExpressions of Political Voice
3%
4%
8%
10%
12%
18%
23%
35%
38%
2%
7%
7%
10%
14%
10%
20%
35%
38%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
Canvassed
Protested
Contacted talk show
Contacted media
Electronic petition
Contacted an official
Written petition
Buycotted
Boycotted
All DotNet
What Makes an Engaged CitizenWhat Makes an Engaged Citizen
Found citizens working in different Found citizens working in different realms: the civic and the electoralrealms: the civic and the electoral
Most of those who are active work Most of those who are active work only in one or the otheronly in one or the other
Those who work in both are specialThose who work in both are special
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
Civic Civic ActivitiesActivities
0 or 10 or 1
2 or more2 or more
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
Electoral ActivitiesElectoral Activities
0 or 10 or 1 2 or more2 or more
Civic Civic ActivitiesActivities
0 or 10 or 1
2 or more2 or more
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
Electoral ActivitiesElectoral Activities
0 or 10 or 1 2 or more2 or more
Civic Civic ActivitiesActivities
0 or 10 or 1 48%48%
2 or more2 or more
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
Electoral ActivitiesElectoral Activities
0 or 10 or 1 2 or more2 or more
Civic Civic ActivitiesActivities
0 or 10 or 1 48%48%
2 or more2 or more 16%16%
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
Electoral ActivitiesElectoral Activities
0 or 10 or 1 2 or more2 or more
Civic Civic ActivitiesActivities
0 or 10 or 1 48%48% 20%20%
2 or more2 or more 16%16%
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
Electoral ActivitiesElectoral Activities
0 or 10 or 1 2 or more2 or more
Civic Civic ActivitiesActivities
0 or 10 or 1 48%48% 20%20%
2 or more2 or more 16%16% 16%16%
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
Electoral ActivitiesElectoral Activities
0 or 10 or 1 2 or more2 or more
Civic Civic ActivitiesActivities
0 or 10 or 1 48%48% 20%20%
2 or more2 or more 16%16% 16%16%
DisengagedDisengaged
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
Electoral ActivitiesElectoral Activities
0 or 10 or 1 2 or more2 or more
Civic Civic ActivitiesActivities
0 or 10 or 1 48%48% 20%20%
2 or more2 or more 16%16% 16%16%
DisengagedDisengaged
Civic SpecialistCivic Specialist
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
Electoral ActivitiesElectoral Activities
0 or 10 or 1 2 or more2 or more
Civic Civic ActivitiesActivities
0 or 10 or 1 48%48% 20%20%
2 or more2 or more 16%16% 16%16%
DisengagedDisengaged
Civic SpecialistCivic Specialist
Electoral SpecialistElectoral Specialist
A Typology of EngagementA Typology of Engagement
Electoral ActivitiesElectoral Activities
0 or 10 or 1 2 or more2 or more
Civic Civic ActivitiesActivities
0 or 10 or 1 48%48% 20%20%
2 or more2 or more 16%16% 16%16%
DisengagedDisengaged
Civic SpecialistCivic Specialist
Electoral SpecialistElectoral Specialist
Dual ActivistDual Activist
Two or More Expressions of Two or More Expressions of “Political Voice”“Political Voice”
42
27
46 47
74
0
20
40
60
80
All Disengaged ElectoralSpecialist
CivicSpecialist
Dual Activist
DotNets More Disengaged…Fewer DotNets More Disengaged…Fewer Dual ActivistsDual Activists
Ages 15 to 25
57%
17%
11%
15%Electoral Specialist
Disengaged
Civic Specialist
Dual Activist
DotNets More Disengaged…Fewer DotNets More Disengaged…Fewer Dual ActivistsDual Activists
Ages 25 and older
46%
16%
17%
21%
Ages 15 to 25
57%
17%
11%
15%Electoral Specialist
Disengaged
Civic Specialist
Disengaged
Civic Specialist
Electoral Specialist
Dual Activist Dual Activist
Major Findings of the StudyMajor Findings of the Study
DotNet cohort is distinctive DotNet cohort is distinctive – Low levels of trust in other peopleLow levels of trust in other people– But relatively high levels of civic But relatively high levels of civic
engagementengagement– High level of faith in government and High level of faith in government and
support for much of what it doessupport for much of what it does– But very low levels of electoral But very low levels of electoral
involvementinvolvement
Major Findings of the StudyMajor Findings of the Study
DotNet cohort is distinctive (cont.) DotNet cohort is distinctive (cont.) – Very tolerant of diversity in its many Very tolerant of diversity in its many
formsforms– Narrow view of responsibilities of Narrow view of responsibilities of
citizenshipcitizenship
Major Findings of the StudyMajor Findings of the Study
Civic and political engagement occur in Civic and political engagement occur in two overlapping arenastwo overlapping arenas– The The civic arenacivic arena of organized voluntary activity of organized voluntary activity
and associationsand associations– The The electoral arenaelectoral arena of elections and campaigns of elections and campaigns
Half of the public is disengagedHalf of the public is disengaged Just over 1/3 specialize in either civic or Just over 1/3 specialize in either civic or
electoral activityelectoral activity One-in-six are “Dual Activists”One-in-six are “Dual Activists”
For Additional InformationFor Additional Information
Molly W. Andolina, Ph.D.Molly W. Andolina, Ph.D.DePaul UniversityDePaul Universitymandolin@depaul.edumandolin@depaul.edu
CIRCLE CIRCLE www.civicyouth.orgwww.civicyouth.orgSurvey template and guideSurvey template and guide
A New Engagement? A New Engagement? Zukin Zukin et al. et al. (Oxford, 2006)(Oxford, 2006)
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