The Impact of a Legislative Internship on Students’ Political Skill and Sophistication

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Abstract
Studies of political internships have shown little impact on attitudes or knowledge. This study tests the proposition that an internship will increase political skill and sophistication. A pre-post test design compares 1980 Tennessee legislative interns with rejected applicants and with three college legislative process classes. As expected, no group showed a change in legislative knowledge or political efficacy over the three month period. Only interns showed a significant increase in: strategic orientation of information seeking; group orientation to political influence; a pressure oriented influence strategy; awareness of strategies for influencing public opinion; awareness of key power centers; and a process view of legislative decision-making. Interns gained in the competencies needed for effective political participation.

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