The Role of Institutional Research in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Regional Conference

Institutional Research Task Force Members Thelma James Day, Ed.D.Natalie Tindall, Ph.D.Co-Chair Crystal Adams, Ed.D. Sarah Chapman, Ph.D. Gwendolyn Combs, Ph.D. Lauren Davis Morgan Franklin Jerlena Griffin-Desta Mary Howard-Hamilton, Ed.D. Alison Harmon, Ed.D. Corliss Heath Alyxis Johnson Treva Lee, Ph.D. Floraline Stevens, Ph.D. Joyce D. Williams 2

Workshop Goals Provide a relevant definition of institutional research Define the role of institutional research in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Describe the importance of institutional research process Identify the goals of the Institutional Research Task Force 3

How Do You Benefit from This Workshop? What Would You Like to Learn in This Session? What Would You Like to Leave This Session With? 4

What is Institutional Research? Research conducted within an institution to provide information which supports institutional planning program evaluation and assessment policy formation decision making 5

Questions for Institutional Research Institutional research seeks answers to specific questions. For example, in higher education, questions may include: 1.How many sections of a specific course should be offered? 2.By what amount should tuition rates be increased to produce a target amount of tuition income? 3.Is attrition a problem at our institution? 4.Are our faculty salaries competitive with those paid by peer institutions? 5.Are the outcomes of our degree programs what the stated purposes of the programs suggest they should be? 6

Outcomes of Institutional Research To improve To inform To prove To support 7

Why Do We Need This? 8

Can You Tell Me... How many hours members of the sorority have worked on community service? How many members of Delta Sigma Theta own a home? What is the percentage of Sorors who are legacies? Are in the U. S. Armed Forces? In how many chapters are the national programs of Delta Sigma Theta being implemented? What is the average GPA of collegiate Sorors in this region? What is the rate of retention for your chapter? 9

Does Our Mission Fit With… Who we are, what we are, what we do, how big is our impact, and where we are making our impact? Does the Five Point Programmatic Thrust align with the needs and issues of the 21 st century? This is why Institutional Research in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. matters. 10

Goal of the National Institutional Research Task Force As the vehicle to collecting data, the National Institutional Research Task Force’s goal is to: Collect and provide factual data to be used by the leadership for: Institutional planning Program evaluation and assessment Policy formation and decision making 11

What kinds of Institutional Research questions does Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. need to ask? 12

Data Gathering The National Institutional Research Task Force is working collaboratively with the: National Executive Committee Standing and Ad Hoc Committees Membership to obtain data about the Sorority and its initiatives. 13

Deliverables Enhance leadership and policy development Program effectiveness through research Conduct studies Provide support 14

Where Does Research Fit in With Your Chapter? 15

Applying the Definition to Your Chapter Research conducted within a chapter to: Provide locally relevant and specific information, which supports: Chapter planning Program evaluation and assessment Policy formation Chapter decision making 16

Evaluation and Assessment It is vital to conduct an evaluation and assessment of your chapter’s programs: to illustrate the impact of the chapter’s programs and activities to demonstrate the difference the chapter is making in the community to improve the efficiency of delivery mechanisms to verify that you’re doing what you think you are doing to produce data that can be used to promote services and activities Available Resource: National Council of Nonprofits: Evaluation of Outcomes 17

disappeared, 18 would it be missed? If your chapter

Types of Program Evaluation Goals-based evaluations Process-based evaluations Outcomes-based evaluations 19

Levels of Evaluation Level 1: Reactions and Feelings Level 2: Learning Level 3: Changes in Skills/Behavior Level 4: Improved Performance/Results 20

How to Collect Data Methods: Document Review Interviews Focus Groups Observations Surveys 21

Analysis and Interpretation Quantitative Qualitative Mixed Methods 22

Quantitative Analysis Numerically measure and characterize outcomes by statistical methods: Average Frequency/percentage Software is available for entry into a computer Survey Monkey Microsoft Excel Yahoo/Google Groups 23

Quantitative Example: Sample questions: 1. What is your highest level of education completed? ____Grade School ____High School ____Some college ____College Graduate 2. How many hours were spent volunteering at a program? 24

Qualitative Data Analysis Coding Categorizing Summary 25

Qualitative Data Analysis Example - Delta Census Survey Open ended question(s) Imagine you were to give advice to the national leadership. Please write 1 or 2 sentences about what she should do to prepare the Sorority for the next 100 years. 26

Questions or Concerns? You can the Taskforce at 27

Conclusion Significance of Institutional Research Data-driven results Decision-making based on factual data Substantive initiatives and narratives Accountability for programming and membership needs Internal and external efficacy 28