Discussion of hotly contested issues seems to encourage students’ interest in the topics. The researchers found that discussion of issues such as the war in Iraq, the Patriot Act, civil rights, and homeland security positively predicted students’ concern about the unjust treatment of others. They hypothesize that “controversy invites deliberation thereby providing students with a forum to voice their opinions and, potentially, spark their interests.” According to Syvertsen and colleagues, “One of the more surprising findings was that discussion of international issues like America’s role in the world over the course of the semester made students more likely to express concerns about their economic future.”