Article summary
Abstract
Civic engagement is a multidimensional concept which includes attitudes and behaviors that
promote active participation in social responsibility, democratic processes, and community wel
fare. Universities play an important part in promoting civic engagement by encouraging students
to build healthy civic values and actively participate in society. Objectives: The current study was
conducted to determine the mean difference between civic engagement attitudes and behaviors
as well as to assess civic engagement and its dimensions among university students. Methods:
A survey-based descriptive-comparative research design was used. The sample consisted of 123
students selected through simple random sampling from different departments of Chaudhary
Charan Singh University Campus, Meerut, India. The Civic Engagement Scale, created by Doolit
tle and Faul (2013), was used for the data collection. Descriptive statistics and a paired-samples
t-test were performed using SPSS for data analysis. Results: The results showed that while civic
engagement behaviors were relatively modest (M=28.98, SD=7.86), participants showed a rel
atively high level of overall civic engagement (M=72.15, SD=13.29) and favorable civic engage
ment attitudes (M=43.17, SD=7.29). A statistically significant difference between civic engage
ment attitudes and behaviors was found using the paired-samples t-test (t(122)=21.54, p<0.01),
with attitudes scoring significantly higher than behaviors. Conclusion: The findings suggest that
although university students possess favorable attitudes toward civic engagement, these atti
tudes are not fully translated into corresponding civic behaviors. The study emphasizes how
important it is for universities to offer worthwhile chances for community involvement, ser
vice-learning, and hands-on activities that support the conversion of favorable civic views into
active civic engagement. These programs might help produce graduates who are civically and
socially conscious.