The aims, methods, and effects of deliberative civic education through the national issues forums

This essay examines the goals, teaching methods, and educational impact of deliberative civic education. Brief descriptions of three current deliberative education programs are followed by an in‐depth analysis of the National Issues Forums (NIF). A summary of NIF materials clarifies the program's basic educational goals and methods. A review of qualitative and quantitative studies gauges NIF's effectiveness. Results show that NIF can bolster participants’ political self‐efficacy, refine their political judgments, broaden their political conversation networks, and reduce their conversational dominance; however, NIF may have no direct effect on political participation, and it may heighten participants’ skepticism about the efficacy of group‐based political action.

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