Measuring student outcomes: An assessment of service-learning in the public relations campaigns course

This study assesses the effectiveness of service-learning in the public relations capstone course by measuring perceived student learning outcomes. An assessment instrument is proposed and tested via a longitudinal survey of students (n = 210) enrolled in the public relations capstone course at a large southeastern university. Results support a general service-learning assessment instrument for public relations education that includes measures of practical skills, interpersonal skills, personal responsibility, and citizenship, as well as discipline-specific functional, creative, and research skills.

► This study tests a general service-learning assessment instrument for use in the public relations capstone course.
► Public relations service-learning outcomes can be assessed using measures of practical skills, interpersonal skills, personal responsibility, and citizenship.
► Public relations discipline-specific learning outcomes can be assessed using measures of functional, creative, and research skills.