Legal Literacy Among Civic Education Students: A Study of Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioural Dimensions

Radini; Otang Kurniaman; Beny Al Fajar; Zufriady; Munjiatun; Anugrah Setiawan

doi:10.33578/pjr.v10i2.1468

Authors

Radini Universitas Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia Author
Otang Kurniaman Universitas Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia Author
Beny Al Fajar Universitas Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia Author
Zufriady Universitas Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia Author
Munjiatun Universitas Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia Author
Anugrah Setiawan State University of Medan, Indonesia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33578/pjr.v10i2.1468

Keywords:

legal literacy, cognitive dimension, legal awareness, law-abiding behaviour

Abstract

This study aims to empirically examine the level of legal literacy among Citizenship Education students across cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions. The approach is quantitative, with a survey design. The study sample consisted of 50 students selected through probability sampling techniques. The research instrument was a Likert-scale questionnaire structured around three main dimensions: legal Knowledge, legal Awareness, and law-abiding behaviour. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a one-way ANOVA to examine differences in legal literacy across semesters. The results show that students' legal literacy is generally high across all dimensions. The affective dimension shows the strongest trend, followed by the cognitive and behavioural dimensions. In addition, there are significant differences in legal literacy levels by semester, indicating that academic experience contributes to progressive improvement in legal literacy. These findings confirm that legal literacy is a multidimensional competency that needs to be developed in an integrated manner through the Citizenship Education curriculum. This study provides theoretical contributions to strengthening the legal literacy model and practical implications for developing more participatory and reflective learning strategies in higher education.

References

Ay, T. S. (2023). An overview of the legal literacy skill in the social studies curriculum from the perspective of jurists. HAYEF: Journal of Education, 20(3), 262–272.

Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behaviour. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T.

Baeihaqi, B., & Komalasari, K. (2020). Civic education learning based on law-related education in the development of student legal attitude. Jurnal Civicus, 20(2).

Banks, J. A. (2017). Diversity and citizenship education: Global perspectives. Jossey-Bass.

Checkoway, B., & Aldana, A. (2013). Four forms of youth civic engagement for diverse democracy. Children and Youth Services Review, 35(11), 1894–1899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.09.005.

Damayanti, S., Khairunisa, W., & Fajriani, N. S. (2023). Building legal Awareness of citizens through civic participation competence in civic education. Abjad Journal of Humanities & Education, 2(2), 34–45. https://doi.org/10.62079/abjad.v2i2.34.

Erdianti, R. N., & Nurzakiah. (2025). Enhancing public legal literacy on legal protection of teachers regarding alleged criminalization in student discipline enforcement. Jurnal Dedikasi Hukum, 5(1), 78–96. https://doi.org/10.22219/jdh.v5i1.40010.

Galston, W. A. (2001). Political Knowledge, political engagement, and civic education. Annual Review of Political Science, 4, 217–234.

Gutmann, A. (1999). Democratic education. Princeton University Press.

Hidayah, Y., Trihastuti, M., & Jannah, N. M. (2025). Repositioning legal logic in the civic education curriculum to build critical citizens. Education of Law Journal, 1(2), 73–81. https://doi.org/10.21831/edulaw.v1i2.2270.

Isac, M. M., Maslowski, R., & Van der Werf, G. (2014). The contribution of schooling to secondary-school students’ civic engagement. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 25(1), 45–63.

Kurniyawan, H., & Tanshzil, S. W. (2024). Strategy of civic education teachers in building Awareness and legal compliance for the younger generation. Indonesian Journal of Social Sciences, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.20473/ijss.v16i2.55927.

Kumar, S., & Hamid, A. H. A. (2025). The level of legal literacy in teacher education and its relationship with discipline management in SJKT schools in the Hilir Perak District. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 14(1), 1254–1271.

Kohlberg, L. (1984). The psychology of moral development: The nature and validity of moral stages. Harper & Row.

Kurniaman, O., Noviana, E., Novianti, R., Permana, D., Linda, R., Kartika Sari, I., Fajar, B. Al, Radini, R., Putra, R. A., & Alifarani, A. (2025). The Effectiveness of Assertive Communication Training in Improving Teachers’ Capacity to Prevent Sexual Violence and Bullying in Elementary Schools. DIKDIMAS: Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 4(2), 115–128. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.58723/dikdimas.v4i2.481.

Mustikarini, I. D., & Harmawati, Y. (2023). Project-Based Learning Models to Analyze Citizenship Law in Legal Science Subject. Substantive Justice: International Journal of Law. 7(2), 84–92. https://doi.org/10.56087/substantivejustice.v7i2.291.

Milner, H. (2002). Civic literacy: How informed citizens make democracy work. University Press of New England.

Nurlinasari, L., & Hamid, S. I. (2018). Efektivitas Model Multiliterasi Kritis dalam Mengembangkan Civic Literacy. Jurnal Civicus, 18(2).

Nurgiansah, T. H., Sapriya, S., Bribin, M. B., Mulyani, H., Prayogi, R., & Suriaman, S. (2024). Model Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan sebagai Pendidikan Hukum. Jurnal Basicedu, 7(6), 4300–4307.

Nussbaum, M. C. (2010). Not for profit: Why democracy needs the humanities. Princeton University Press.

Osler, A., & Starkey, H. (2005). Changing Citizenship: Democracy and inclusion in education. Open University Press.

Resmini, W., Sakban, A., & Fitriyani, F. (2025). Pembelajaran literasi civic education untuk menanamkan nilai moral siswa. CIVICUS: Pendidikan-Penelitian-Pengabdian Pendidikan Pancasila dan Kewarganegaraan. 8(1), 23-29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31764/civicus.v8i1.1791.

Radini, R., Supentri, S., Erlinda, S., Arianto, J., Grosman, K. P., & Primahardani, I. (2025). Implementasi Tentang Pentingnya Pendidikan Pancasila Bagi Pelajar di Kecamatan Pangkalan Kerinci Kabupaten Pelalawan. Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat Nusantara, 6(2), 1593–1599.

Siregar, H., & Kemala, V. D. (2023). Citizenship education as legal education in schools. EDUCTUM: Journal Research, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.56495/ejr.v2i1.319

Sukmayadi, T., Abdulkarim, A., Komalasari, K., & Siti Masyitoh, I. (2025). Strengthening civic literacy through learning civic education courses at Ahmad Dahlan University. Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan, 22(2), 498–510. https://doi.org/10.21831/jc.v22i2.86415

Sugiyono. (2019). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif, dan R&D. Alfabeta.

Schulz, W., Ainley, J., Fraillon, J., Losito, B., & Agrusti, G. (2016). ICCS 2016 international report: Civic Knowledge, attitudes, and engagement among lower-secondary students. International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA).

Tjeppy, T. (2021). Learning civic education on students’ legal Awareness. Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan, 18(1), 97–108. https://doi.org/10.21831/jc.v18i1.38602.

Torney-Purta, J., Lehmann, R., Oswald, H., & Schulz, W. (2001). Citizenship and education in twenty-eight countries: Civic Knowledge and engagement at age fourteen. IEA.

Westheimer, J., & Kahne, J. (2004). What kind of citizen? The politics of educating for democracy. American Educational Research Journal, 41(2), 237–269.