Editing Homeschooling (section)

===Social===
Due to its qualitative nature and reliance on parental or self-assessment, the social outcomes of homeschooling are challenging to determine, despite being a major criticism of homeschooling as a phenomenon, and the quality of existing studies on this topic is poor, due to subject-typical problems with demographic bias.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=20}}

Homeschooled children have been found to score higher than average in [[self-concept]], a metric correlated to positive social outcomes.<ref name="Taylor">[https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/726/ Self-Concept in home-schooling children], John Wesley Taylor V, Ph.D., Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI</ref> NHERI researcher Richard G. Medlin found that homeschooled children sampled from Christian homeschool co-ops self-reported higher in cooperation, assertiveness, empathy, and self-control than a random sample of children attending public schools.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Medlin |first=Richard G. |year=2006 |title=Homeschooled Children's Social Skills |url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED573486.pdf |journal=Home School Researcher |publisher=National Home Education Research Institute |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=1–8 |via=ERIC}}</ref> A study of the social connections of homeschooled children found that homeschoolers had an equal number of social connections as their peers, but that those connections had a larger range of ages.<ref name=":4" /> A review of studies on the topic found that while homeschoolers were slightly more likely to report feelings of social isolation and be less peer-oriented, this may have fostered a greater sense of independence and self-determination as well.<ref name=":4" />

Homeschooled youth are less likely to use illicit substances and are more likely to disapprove of using alcohol and marijuana.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Vaughn |first1=Michael G. |last2=Salas-Wright |first2=Christopher P. |last3=Kremer |first3=Kristen P. |last4=Maynard |first4=Brandy R. |last5=Roberts |first5=Greg |last6=Vaughn |first6=Sharon |year=2015 |title=Are homeschooled adolescents less likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs? |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |volume=155 |pages=97–104 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.010 |pmc=4652803 |pmid=26338482}}</ref>

Although a large proportion of parents cited religion as their primary reason for homeschooling, a 2008 survey found that homeschooling had no effect on the religious behavior or affiliation of children, with parents holding the same degree of influence over their children regardless of their schooling method.<ref name=":4" />

Homeschooled students are more likely to vote than average, and homeschooled families were found to be more politically involved than those who did not homeschool.<ref name=":4" />