Peer-reviewed article
Can Participation in Mock Elections Boost Civic Competence among Students?
2024Lundberg, E.Journal of Political Science Education
What is this study about?
The study examines the significance of participation in mock elections for students' democratic competence. Using data from more than 9,000 Swedish students, it analyses the relationship between participation in mock elections and students' political knowledge, interest, engagement and sense of their own political efficacy. The study also examines whether the relationships differ between different groups of students.
What did we find?
Can school elections strengthen young people's democratic competence? A study of more than 9,000 Swedish students shows that participation in school elections is perceived above all to increase political knowledge, but also to some extent political interest, engagement and self-confidence. The effects differ across student groups, showing that school elections can serve as democratic training but do not affect all students in the same way.
Why does it matter?
The school is one of the few institutions that reaches almost all young people and therefore has particular significance for democratic socialization. Mock elections give students the opportunity to encounter politics through a concrete activity that resembles a real election. The study points out that such experiences can contribute to political learning and engagement, but also emphasizes the importance of paying attention to which students benefit and under what conditions. This is central if mock elections are to serve as an inclusive form of democratic training.
Citation
Lundberg, E. (2024) Can Participation in Mock Elections Boost Civic Competence among Students?. Journal of Political Science Education 20(2) 274–291
Research area
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