| Encouraging Civic Engagement | ||
| Thirty-six variables were arrayed according to whether they have a positive, neutral, or negative influence on both voting (“passive” civic engagement) and ISI’s combined measure of “active” civic engagement.* | ||
| Explanatory Variable | Likelihood of Voting (passive) | Degree of engagement (active) |
| Greater Civic Knowledge | Positive | Positive |
| Frequent discussion of public affairs and history | Positive | Positive |
| Frequent reading of current events and history | Positive | Positive |
| Frequent religious attendance | Neutral | Positive |
| Frequent viewing of TV news and documentaries | Neutral | Positive |
| Higher Age | Positive | Positive |
| Higher Income | Neutral | Positive |
| Liberal and Democrat | Positive | Positive |
| Conservative and Republican | Positive | Positive |
| K12 Teacher | Neutral | Positive |
| College Teacher | Negative | Positive |
| Bachelor’s Degree | Positive | Neutral |
| High School Degree | Positive | Neutral |
| Master’s Degree | Neutral | Neutral |
| Doctoral Degree | Neutral | Neutral |
| Frequent hours reading websites | Negative | Neutral |
| Frequent use of social networking sites | Neutral | Neutral |
| Frequent emailing | Neutral | Neutral |
| Frequent telephone usage | Neutral | Neutral |
| Frequent viewing of movies | Neutral | Neutral |
| Frequent viewing of prime-time television | Neutral | Neutral |
| Frequent listening to music | Neutral | Neutral |
| Frequent reading of fiction | Negative | Neutral |
| Married | Positive | Neutral |
| Parent | Positive | Neutral |
| Minority | Positive | Neutral |
| Female | Neutral | Neutral |
| Muslim | Neutral | Neutral |
| Northeast | Neutral | Neutral |
| Named all three original American Idol judges | Neutral | Neutral |
| Frequent playing of video games | Negative | Negative |
| Judeo-Christian | Neutral | Negative |
| Foreign National | Negative | Negative |
| Learning Handicap | Neutral | Positive |
| English Primary Childhood Language | Neutral | Neutral |
| Supports instruction of American civics | Neutral | Neutral |
| *The seven electoral activities combined to form a single measure of active civic engagement included 1) influencing how others vote; 2) attending political meetings; 3) working on a campaign; 4) giving money to a campaign; 5) contacting a public official; 6) signing a petition; and 7) publishing a letter to the editor. | ||
