Date of Award

4-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Education (MEd)

Department

Graduate Education

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of the service learning implemented within the fifth grade curriculum of a small private school in the Midwestern United States with the goal of fostering civic responsibility and altruism within the fifth grade students. Data was collected from sixth grade students within two private schools; one group was the experimental group that had been involved in weekly service learning throughout their fifth grade year and the other group was the control group that had not been involved in service learning the previous year. Nominal-polytomous questionnaires, qualitative scenario-response questionnaires, and personal interviews were used to collect data. These were then analyzed using a grounded theory process. The study found a 24% higher tendency towards civic responsibility amongst the experimental group but an 8% higher tendency towards altruism amongst the control group. The results of this study lead to the conclusion that fifth grade service learning is effective in fostering civic responsibility, but is not effective in the development of altruistic attitudes.

Comments

Action Research Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Education

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