Building a just world: the effects of service-learning on social justice beliefs of Chinese college students

This study aimed to examine the effects of different service experiences on the social justice beliefs of 60 Chinese college students with mixed methods. The quantitative results indicated that the participants in two service groups (i.e. for at-risk adolescents and adolescents with cerebral palsy) demonstrated a more significant promotion of social justice beliefs than their peers in non-service group. A qualitative analysis provided evidence of the mechanism underlying service-learning, as well as different service experiences affecting on students’ social justice beliefs. Finally, the implications for implementing service-learning and realizing social justice goals in China were discussed.