Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1994

Volume

17

Publication Title

Journal of Adolescence

First Page

341

Last Page

355

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of key characteristics of service-learning experiences (such as autonomy, instructional support for the experience, and so on) on the cognitive, moral, and ego identity development of undergraduates. Participants in service-learning courses and control students wrote pre- and post-responses to social problems. Service-learning students· also completed weekly journals and an evaluation of their experiences. Results revealed significant gains for the service-learning participants on certain cognitive dimensions, such as awareness of multidimensionality. Aspects of the experience predicted cognitive gains as well as gains in prosocial reasoning. Paired 1-tests revealed significant increases in prosocial decision-making, prosocial reasoning and identity processing.

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