Impact of service-learning on participants' attitudes towards people with disabilities
Abstract
This research explores the impact of a service-learning project on the attitudes of the student participants. The study also investigates the impact of a service-learning project on the sense of efficacy and autonomy of the participants. Survey packets were administered to forty-three 3rd through 8th graders from a Nashville-area private school divided into two groups distinguished by an intervention. Group one participated in a Disability Awareness Program (DAP) alone, and group two participated in a DAP coupled with a service-learning project. Data was collected pre- and post-intervention for both groups. Analyses of the data revealed that group one experienced significant increases in positive attitudes towards people with disabilities compared to group two. Group two reported decreases in positive attitudes towards people with disabilities after participation in a DAP followed by a service-learning project, though the change was not significant. These results were the opposite of the anticipated results stated in hypothesis one. There were no other differences between the two groups in either the area of efficacy or autonomy. Post-hoc analyses produced no significant results when gender and age differences were investigated.
Subject Area
Special education|Counseling Psychology
Recommended Citation
Jovanna Emerson,
"Impact of service-learning on participants' attitudes towards people with disabilities"
(2011).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI3468685.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI3468685