Communication and age in childhood political socialization: An interactivemodel of political development

The proposed interactive model of political development predicts that the s ocialization effects of communication will be moderated by age, such that y ounger children will be influenced less than older children by the same com munication source. Using data collected from a sample of 290 children from San lose, California, in grades five through twelve, this model was tested using political knowledge as the socialization criterion. The data provided strong support for the model, and the implications for future socializatio n research were discussed.(1).