A new study by a major university shows that Eagle Scouts have a positive, lasting influence on American society. Probably not a surprise to anyone who is visiting this web site! The following is a summary of their findings. (The entire report can be downloaded from the download page on this website, or here.)
Research Finds Eagle Scouts Have Positive, Lasting Influence on American Society
Source: Baylor University
Nationwide study shows those who attain Scouting’s highest rank enhance youth’s values, ethics, decision making, relationships and personal development
Newswise — WACO, Texas (April 10, 2012) – One hundred years after Arthur Eldred of New York earned the first Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, researchers with Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR) and Program on Prosocial Behavior have released findings from a nationwide, scientific survey that demonstrates the significant, positive impact Eagle Scouts have on society – from holding leadership positions in their workplace and neighborhood to voting, giving and volunteering to protecting the environment and being prepared for emergencies.
“There is no shortage of examples or anecdotal accounts that suggest Scouting produces better citizens, but now there is scientific evidence to confirm the prosocial benefits of Scouting or earning the rank of Eagle Scout,” said the study’s principal investigator, Byron R. Johnson, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences, director of the Program on Prosocial Behavior and ISR co-director. “The central question of this study was to determine if achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is associated with prosocial behavior and development of character that carries over into young adulthood and beyond.”
With funding from a major two-year research grant from the John Templeton Foundation, Baylor researchers with ISR’s Program on Prosocial Behavior partnered with the Gallup Organization to conduct a nationwide random survey of 2,512 adult males.
Sung Joon Jang, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, Baylor ISR Faculty Fellow and co-principal investigator, said analyses were conducted to see whether three groups of survey respondents – Eagle Scouts, Scouts who did not achieve the Eagle Scout rank, and non-Scouts – differed in responses to a series of survey questions related to the following topics:
• Well-being (survey questions dedicated to recreational activities, emotional well-being, relational well-being and physical well-being)
• Civic engagement (survey items focusing on membership in formal and informal groups, community donations, community volunteering, community problem-solving, environmental stewardship, political participation and civic leadership)
• Character development (survey statements asking about commitment to learning, goal orientation, planning/preparedness, self-efficacy, activities with neighbors, accountability, moral attitudes, openness to diversity, civic attitudes and spirituality)
The Baylor study found that Eagle Scouts – compared to Scouts who never attained the rank of Eagle Scout and men who were never Scouts – were significantly more likely to:
• Exhibit higher levels of participation in a variety of health and recreational activities, such as regular exercise, outdoor recreation, attending plays and live theater, reading books, playing a musical instrument and visiting a local, state or national park (Figures 1-10, pp. 4-9),
• Show a greater connection to siblings, neighbors, religious community, friends, coworkers, formal and informal groups and a spiritual presence in nature (Figures 11-18, pp. 9-13),
• Share a greater belief in duty to God, service to others, service to the community and leadership, such as donating money within the last month to a religious or non-religious organization or charity, reporting volunteer time with a religious or non-religious organizations, working with neighbors to address a problem or improve something, voting in the last presidential election and holding leadership positions at a workplace or local community (Figures 19-26, pp. 13-17),
• Engage in behaviors that are designed to enhance and protect the environment, such as being active in a group that works to protect the environment, avoiding the use of certain products that harm the environment and using less water in their households (Figures 27-29, pp. 17-18),
• Be committed to setting and achieving personal, professional, spiritual and financial goals (Figures 30-35, pp. 18-21),
• Show higher levels of planning and preparedness, such as having a disaster supply kit in their home and emergency supplies in their car, designating a specific meeting place for family during an emergency and being CPR certified (Figures 36-39, pp. 22-23), and
• Indicate that they have built character traits related to work ethics, morality, tolerance and respect for diversity, such as always exceeding people’s expectations and doing what is right, working hard to get ahead, treating people of other religions with respect, strongly agreeing that most religions make a positive contribution to society, stating that respecting religious leaders outside of their religions is somewhat important and showing respect to the American flag (Figures 40-46, pp. 24-27).
Young-Il Kim, Ph.D., a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at ISR and study co-author, found that “Eagle Scouts consistently indicate their experience in Scouting contributed to positive and prosocial development.”
“Compared to Scouts and non-Scouts, Eagle Scouts exhibit significantly higher levels of health and recreation, connection, service and leadership, environmental stewardship, goal orientation, planning and preparedness, and character,” said Rodney Stark, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor and co-director of ISR.
Interesting study, which I just stumbled upon while researching Eagle Workbook options for my troop. (As an aside, thanks for your other posts on that topic!)
I was struck by one aspect that the authors seemed to avoid addressing. In many cases the Eagle and the non-Scout scores were similar, with non-Eagle Scouts having much lower scores. Consider the very first question on daily exercise, or the very last about respecting the flag. In both cases the responses from Scouts who don’t make Eagle are troubling. Any thoughts on that?
I am not a professional researcher by any means, but to me, these studies always beg the question of cause and effect. Are these the qualities of an Eagle Scout because they went through the Scouting program, or because the same type of personality that would pursue an Eagle Scout award would also be interested in these more positive aspects of living? On a personal level, I have seen dramatic changes in personality and interests as a result of Scouting in some boys, and little in others. Sometimes it comes early in a boy’s Scouting career, and sometimes at age 17, which may account for the skewed results. For myself, Scouting PROFOUNDLY changed the course of my life, which is one of the reasons I spend so much time as a volunteer giving back to this program.