The article “The Effects of Service-Learning on Middle School Students’ Social Responsibility and Academic Success” investigates the effects of service-learning on a group of diverse students, grades 6-8 (Scales et al., 2000). From their research of the existing literature, the researchers of this study find that service-learning is seen as a strategy to promote students’ social responsibility and academic success. This study the validity of these theories. The researchers try to answer 4 research questions, the overarching question being: Does service-learning have a positive impact on students’ social responsibility and academic success? The researchers gathered reports of acts, behaviors, and events from students both involved and not involved in service-learning. They collected this data by administering a survey to students, measuring “social responsibility”, “personal development opportunities”, “parent involvement”, “commitment to classwork”, “engagement with school”, “perceived scholastic competence”, “intellectual achievement responsibility”, “evaluation and mastery goals”, “academic success”, and “conduct” (Scales et al., 2000). The researchers use ANCOVAs for their data analysis method. This method compares service-learning students with non-service learning students, using a variety of dependent variables. The researchers found service-learning can have positive effects on student’s concern about the welfare of others. This concern was found to decline in students not involved in service-learning. In regards to academic success, service-learning students reported a higher commitment to their classwork then non-service learning students. Service-learning may help maintain students’ positive views toward school providing them opportunities (Scales et al., 2000). A limit in this study was: the students that participated were “far from typical” (Scales et al., 2000). The students were already participating in service learning projects at higher rates than average students (Scales et, al., 2000). This is why in my research I plan to investigate the effects service-learning has on struggling students that are newly involved in these projects and see if it has any effect on their academic success.

Scales, P.C., Blyth, D.A., Berkas, T.H., Kielsmeier, J.C. (2000). The effects of service-learning on middle school students’ social responsibility and academic success. Journal of Early Adolescence, 20(3), 332-358.