Constructing The Political Identity Of Generation Next: A Focus Group Study

In the midst of an election season, research in the areas of politics and democratic engagement become increasingly important. Framed by concepts from social constructionism, this study used focus group interviews to better understand salient political values and citizenship norms among America\u27s youth. Through personal experience and reflection, participants in this qualitative study were able to produce meaningful data from which one may draw general conclusions. The three major themes appeared as 1) socialization & development, 2) lack of faith, and 3) expanded notions of citizenship and engagement. Ultimately, results from this study suggested that America\u27s youth have constructed a subjective political reality in which effective political participation is characterized by personal action rather than adherence to an established political system and its respective modes of participation