From Exposure to Responsibility: A Developmental Model of Political Awareness Formation Among Senior High School Learners

Abstract

This study revisits data originally gathered from the school-based research titled “A Mixed-Method Approach to Understanding SHS Students’ Political Awareness Through News Habits, Civic Involvement, and Political Literacy Levels” to further examine how political awareness develops among Senior High School students and to propose a developmental model explaining its formation. Employing a secondary mixed-method research design, the study integrates previously collected quantitative survey results and qualitative interview responses to identify patterns and developmental differences in students’ political awareness. Quantitative findings reveal clear distinctions among students classified as having low, moderate, and high levels of awareness across key dimensions, including news engagement, civic participation, recognition of political issues and challenges, and political literacy. These distinctions are further enriched by qualitative findings, which highlight the significant roles of media exposure, peer discussions, and teacher-facilitated classroom dialogue in shaping students’ political understanding and engagement. The integrated analysis indicates that political awareness among adolescents develops progressively, beginning with passive exposure to political information and advancing toward critical interpretation, active civic engagement, and a strengthened sense of social and civic responsibility. Based on these results, the study proposes the “From Exposure to Responsibility Model,” a four-stage developmental framework that conceptualizes political awareness as an evolving process rather than a fixed level of knowledge. By emphasizing the dynamic nature of political awareness formation, the study contributes to the literature on political socialization and offers practical implications for educational institutions aiming to foster informed, critically engaged, and socially responsible citizens among the youth.