Using digital storytelling to facilitate critical thinking disposition in youth civic engagement: A randomized control trial

Chitat Chan

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: Digital Storytelling (DST) is a storytelling practice that is interwoven with digital media, including images, texts, sounds, and other elements. This study specifically designed a DST project based on a dialogic orientation and examined to what extent it could promote young participants’ critical and reflective mindsets. Method: By using civic identity as a heuristic production theme, a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) was conducted in Hong Kong in 2019. Participants were youths in Hong Kong, aged 16–24. They were randomized into a group receiving intervention (n1 = 36) and a control group that did not receive the intervention (n2 = 51). Participants shared photos on social media, chatted online and offline with facilitators, and finally produced their digital photo stories. Results: Participants in the intervention group increased their self-esteem and critical thinking disposition. Their ethnocentric views also declined. Participants in the control group became more closed-minded, but participants in the intervention group remained at a stable level. Implication: This study provides initial evidence showing that DST might be used to develop youth participants’ CT disposition in civic engagement activities.

Original languageEnglish
Article number104522
JournalChildren and Youth Services Review
Volume107
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2019

Keywords

  • Civic engagement
  • Critical thinking
  • Digital storytelling
  • Narrative practice
  • Social media

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science

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