Quality of Service-Learning Experience

The study aimed to better understand how service learning is being implemented across the CSU campuses, if there are common underlying elements in implementation, and the overall quality of these elements. 

The quality of these elements was addressed through the analysis of course syllabi and student and faculty ratings on the service learning posttest questionnaire.

QUALITY OF SERVICE-LEARNING COURSE BY SYLLABUS: COHORTS 1-3

​Very Low (Under 1)
​Low (1-1.99)
​Medium (2-2.99)
​High (3-4)
​Cohort 1
​6
​3
​15
​7
​Cohort 2
​12
​6
​4
​12
​Cohort 3
​2
​1
​0
​8

Quality of Service-Learning Course by Student Ratings

Comparison of Mean Student-Reported Civic Engagement Attitudes, Civic Engagement Behaviors, and STEM Career Interest by Service-Learning Clusters Based on Assigned Quality of Service-Learning Experience (Low, Medium, High)


​Low Quality
(n = 296)
​Medium Quality
(n = 213)
​High Quality
(n = 215)
​F (df)
​Civic Engagement Attitudes
​5.44a
​5.56
​5.77a
​2.91
(2,718)+
​Civic Engagement Behaviors
4.58b
​4.81
​4.92b
​2.88
(2,718)+
​STEM Career Interest
​4.09
​4.06
​4.15
​0.72
(2.722)

Note: (+) Indicates a marginally significant result; means with superscripts (i.e., a,b) indicate that pair-wise comparisons are significantly different from each other.  a:p<.01; b:p<.05.

Students in the high-quality clusters reported, on average, significantly more positive civic engagement attitudes and behaviors than students in the low quality clusters.