Uncovering Pathways to Kindness: A Critical Realist Analysis of How U.S. University Students Engage in the Common Good

This study addresses this gap by employing a critical realist approach to examine how U.S. university students actively involved in social impact organizations manifest their commitment to the common good. Critical realism provides a framework for analyzing both students’ observable actions in pursuing social impact as well as the underlying socio-cultural structures that shape or constrain their engagement. Using a mixed-methods approach integrating interviews and surveys, the proposed research will explore 1) students’ motivations for engagement, 2) the evolution of their identities through participation, and 3) the enhancement of their capacity to address societal challenges.