Factors in the political participation of college students

Abstract

This study focused on the participation of college students in the political process. Officers of the supreme student government were chosen as respondents since they were perceived to be more active in politics than the other students, electoral activity and voting behavior were the indices used to measure political participation. The influence of the family or parental influence and mass media exposure were measured to find out how they affected the political participation of a respondent. Questionnaires were given to officers of the Supreme Student Government of the different schools in Baguio City. Before the data were treated, the method of summation was used in order to know the real score of each item in the questionnaire. Percentage difference was then used to know the relationship between political participation as the dependent variable and mass media exposure and parental influence as the independent variables, respectively. Test variables included age, gender, type of community respondent is from, course and year level. There is no significant relationship between political participation and parental influence; the Faine is true with the relationship between politic81 participation and mass media exposure. However, if test variables are introduced in determining their relationship, then there would be a considerable change in their relationship. Using year level as a test variable between political participation and parental influence yielded an insignificant relationship. Gender, age, course and type of community respondent is from provided a significant relationship between the two variables mentioned above. Gender, year level and course as test variables gave a significant relationship between political participation and mass media exposure; age and type of community did not affect the relationship of the dependent and independent variables. Parental influence and mass media exposure can be considered as factors of political participation only If test variables are introduced in determining the relationship between the former variables. Gender, age, course and type of community affect the relationship between political participation and parental influence; gender, year level and course affect the relationship between mass media exposure and political participation. Gender is a test variable which affects the relationship both between parental influence and political participation and mass media exposure and political participation. This is specially true in the case of “females.” It is therefore highly recommended that organizers of NGs, especially women groups, take measures to make women more aware of their role in politics. This can even lead to the realization of a women’s vote in the future. A voters education program may be set up by the government to raise the political awareness of the people. The youth should be trained on their civic, communal and political rights and duties. People’s groups can be organized to present issues which can be done hand in hand with mass media.