Determinants of the intention to participate in the judicial system in undergraduates: Using the factor relation model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine citizens’ cognition regarding judicial participation using the 3 evaluations included in the factor relation model (Hirose, 1994) and the relationships between the subjects’ cognition and their intention to participate in the judicial system. The 3 evaluations included in the factor relation model are “the feasibility evaluation”, which examines citizens’ knowledge and experience; “the cost evaluation”, which concerns responsibility; and “the benefit evaluation”, which focuses on the effects of citizens’ judicial participation. In the preliminary study, 74 undergraduates freely described their thoughts about judicial participation. Their descriptions were classified using the 3 evaluations mentioned above. In the main study, 206 individuals—mainly undergraduates—were surveyed. Factor analysis revealed that “the feasibility evaluation” and “the benefit evaluation” consisted of 4 factors, and “the cost evaluation” only included one factor. Furthermore, “improvement of affinity” and “improvement of transparency”, which were examined in “the benefit evaluation”, facilitated motivation, but “lack of knowledge and experience”, which was evaluated in “the feasibility evaluation”, and “weight of responsibility”, which was assessed in “the cost evaluation”, inhibited motivation. Based on these results, the directions that future studies should take werediscussed.