The Development of Political Thinking in Early Adolescence

Abstract

This study investigated the development of political thinking in early adolescence. Subjects for the study were 57 fourth and fifth grade chil-dren enrolled in a public elementary school in the southwest. Children were interviewed relative to: (a) their criteria for the selection of a presidential candidate in their school's mock presidential election, and (b) their convictions about what the president should do. Scores were assigned to interview responses on the basis of a scoring scale designed to reflect incremental levels in thought. Chi Square analysis revealed a significant difference (p < .01) for the main effect, Sex, in relation to Question 1, indicating higher level thinking on the part of females, and a significant interaction effect (p < .05) in relation to Question 2, indicating higher level thinking on the part of fifth grade females. No significant differences for the main effect, Grade, were revealed in relation to either question.