Creating a Generation of Problem Solvers: A Cognitive Perspective on Service-Learning

This paper takes a foray into the psychological literature and applies a cognitive framework, the Reasonable Person Model (RPM), to a well-respected service-learning program, Earth Force's Community Action and Problem (CAPS) framework. Seeing CAPS through an RPM lens provides insights into the aspects of service-learning experience that may be most pivotal in ensuring positive outcomes. Likewise, while the RPM makes intuitive sense, this analysis offers an empirical demonstration of its effectiveness. (authors)