Student Success in Service-Learning: Building Ethical Citizen Scholars

Authors:

• Susan Waters (Missouri State Univ)
• Elizabeth Carmichael Burton (Missouri State University)

Abstract:

This research investigates whether students ethically increase in their moral development by participating in a service-learning course. The Defining Issues Test, Version 2 (Rest, 1976) was administered as a pre-test to service-learning students (N = 56) and was again administered as a post-test after students completed their service-learning intervention. The survey was also administered to a control group of students (N =35) as a pre-and post-test, community partners (N = 39) and business leaders (N = 38) for verification of their ethical standards. The hypotheses were partially confirmed and the positive social modification of the students' ethics illustrates the ethical impact of service-learning engagement.