Is+lack+of+familiarity+with+Millennium+Development+Goals

**Is lack of familiarity with Millennium Development Goals among college students a problem to** **be addressed in service-learning projects?** Sara Mason, Masters Candidate, University of Dayton s.mason1288@gmail.com] Roger Reeb, Professor of Psychology and Director of Graduate Programs in Psychology, University of Dayton roger.reeb@notes.udayton.edu]



**Keywords:** Millennium Development Goals; Diamond Model of Engaged Scholarship; Psycho-Ecological Systems Model, generativity

**Track:** Student development and learning

**Format:** Poster presentation

**Date & time: **Friday 9:00

**Location: **Salon 4 / Salon 9

**Summary:** This study examined two hypotheses: 1. The majority of undergraduate students are unfamiliar with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). 2. Relative to individuals unfamiliar with MDGs, individuals familiar with MDGs have: higher generativity, greater awareness of social injustices, and lower social alienation. Since 304 of 353 participants endorsed the item, “I have never heard of the Millennium Development Goals,” the first hypothesis was supported. Regarding the second hypothesis, results revealed that, relative to students who had “never heard of” MDGs, students with moderate-to-high MDG familiarity had higher generativity (p < .05), greater awareness of social injustices (p < .05), and lower social alienation (across measures) (p < .05). (The presentation will also summarize results of a different study demonstrating lack of MDG familiarity, even among undergraduates who actively pursue service-learning.)

This study reveals a potential to enhance students’ learning by incorporating MDGs in reflection exercises. A closer alliance between service-learning initiatives and diversity/multicultural training will better prepare students for a life of service. Familiarity with MDGs will allow service-learning students to consider the significance of their service (beyond the local community, and within a global context), and will help them to better prepare for community service and/or research in different cultures (including international collaborative projects).

**References:** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Dean, D. G. (1961). Alienation. Its meaning and measurement. //American Sociological Review//, //26//, 753-768.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Jessor, R., & Jessor, S. (1977). //Problem behavior and psychosocial development//. New York, NY: Academic Press.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Lipkus, I. (1991). The construction and preliminary validation of a Global Belief in a Just World Scale and the exploratory analysis of the Multidimensional Belief in a Just World Scale. //Personality and Individual Differences//, //12//, 1171-1178.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">McAdams, D. P., & de St. Aubin, E. (1992). A theory of generativity and its assessment through self-report, behavioral acts, and narrative themes in autobiography. //Journal of Personality and Social Psychology//, //62//, 1003-1015.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">McClosky, H., & Schaar, J. H. (1965). Psychological dimensions of anomy. //American Sociological Review//, //30//, 14-40.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Neal, A. G., & Groat, H. T. (1974). Social class correlates of stability and change in levels of alienation. //Sociological Quarterly//, //15//, 548-558.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Reeb, R. N. & Folger, S. F. (October, 2010). //The Psycho-Ecological Systems Model for Engaged Scholarship and Community-Oriented Service-Learning Research.// Presented at the Tenth Annual International Research Conference on Service Learning and Community Engagement, Indianapolis, Indiana.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Reeb, R. N., & Folger, S. F. (in press). Research on community development and outcomes in service learning: From local to global. In P. H. Clayton, R. G. Bringle, & J. A. Hatcher (Eds.). //Service learning research: Conceptual models and assessment.// Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Wingenfeld, S., & Newbrough, J. R. (2000). Community psychology in international perspective. In J. Rappaport, & E. Seidman (Eds.). //Handbook of community psychology.// Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

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