title: Service-learning in deaf studies: impact on the development of altruistic behaviors and social justice concern.
abstract: A literature review identified various kinds of altruism, including altruism devoted to social change and a charitable form of altruism, along with the concept that it is possible for these types to occur independently or simultaneously. A study was conducted with university students in a Deaf studies program to determine the effect of a service-learning experience on the development of altruistic behaviors. Students in a course titled "Social Services in the Deaf Community" responded to a questionnaire measuring their attitudes toward serving the community before and after they participated in an off-campus experience volunteering with organizations that served or could serve the Deaf community. The results indicated significant changes in students' attitudes regarding their ability to make a difference in society, and strongly suggest a positive correlation between service-learning experiences and development of "civic responsibility" altruistic behaviors among Deaf studies students volunteering in the community.
authors.affiliation: Deaf Studies Program, Department of Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, and Deaf Studies, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Sheryl B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Jody H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cripps
authors.forename: Joel I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Reisman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000533:Altruism; D001290:Attitude; D003625:Data Collection; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D060345:Education of Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D012935:Social Justice / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult