1. THE 4-H STUDY OF POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:
Richard M. Lerner, Jacqueline V. Lerner, Erin Phelps, and Colleagues
Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development
Tufts University, Medford, MA

2. 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit
Items for discussion:
Site and participant recruitment
Training and support from Tufts
Financial support for participating counties
Timeline
Reporting
Needs?
<place where faculty and staff can access materials>
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

3. Site and Participant Recruitment
Target age – 9-12th graders, focus on 12th graders
4-H and non-4-H youth
Partner who will work with you to secure parent consent and administer the survey
Parent consent likely
On-line option is preferred
Can Tufts find them in a year?
YOUR IDEAS??
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

4. 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit
Tufts Support
Centra sessions for data collectors – <date>
Toolkit of materials including: sample IRB forms, correspondence, news releases and other resources
Phone and for questions
Costs of producing the data collection materials can be reimbursed
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

5. 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit
Money $$$$
Pre-Study
<$ incentive from your state>
<location of form to fill out to receive money from state>
Post-Study
Thank-you gift from Tufts
Only for face-to-face data collection
$30 gift credit with Amazon.com
Multi-year sites will be paid $50 by Tufts
Only for 2nd year or beyond
Only for face-to-face settings
For any number of surveys submitted
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

6. Data Collection Expenses
Only available for face-to-face data collection:
Keep track of copies produced and request reimbursement for the following:
# Student Questionnaires <40> per page
# Parent Consent Forms – 4 $.05 per page
# Youth Assent Forms – 1 per page
# Parent letters – 2 pages $.05 per page
# Additional printing – $.05 per page
No postage expenses will be reimbursed by Tufts.
No other expenses will be reimbursed without prior approval from Tufts.
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

7. 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit
Timeline
Immediately – site recruitment, eIRB
Templates are ready: <location where templates can be found>, or on the National 4-H Brand Network website
By <established date> – letter of permission, set dates for administration, request needed materials
By <established date> – complete administration and submit results
Fall 2010 – <state> results
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

8. 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit
Reporting
Will set up statewide program with <coordinator> as Team Leader and data collectors as Team Members.
Use Scheduling function to show planned sites/dates?
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

9. 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit
Design of the 4-H Study
This is a longitudinal study: Youth are followed across time
Beginning in 5th Grade, we are following some youth through 12th Grade (and we hope past high school)
To adjust for youth who drop out of the study and to maintain our ability to conduct powerful statistical analyses, we have added new students each year
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

10. 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit
Design of the 4-H Study
We are longitudinally studying these new students as well
A minimum of three times of measurement are needed to judge developmental change. We are reporting for the first time the results from three times of testing
Overall, we have sampled more than 6,000 youth from 37 states and more than 2,000 parents!
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

11. 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit
Design of the 4-H Study
For comparative purposes, our sample includes 4-H youth and non-4-H youth. These groups of youth differ in several ways
To judge the differences between 4-H youth and other youth we need to create a matched subsample
However, this limits our ability to apply the findings to all 4-H youth
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

12. Key Principles of the PYD Perspective
Because of the potential to change, all youth have strengths.
All contexts have strengths as well. These strengths are resources that may be used to promote positive youth development.
These resources are termed “developmental assets”: They are the “social nutrients” needed for healthy development.
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

13. Key Principles of the PYD Perspective
Strengths of youth are combined with ecological developmental assets. Then, these assets are found in families, schools, faith institutions, youth serving organizations, and the community more generally.
If the positive, healthy development may occur.
We may be optimistic that it is in our power to promote positive development among all youth.
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

14. Three Key Hypotheses of the 4-H Study
Hypothesis 1. PYD is constituted by “Five Cs:”
The Five Cs
Competence
Confidence
Character
Caring
Connection
Contribution
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

15. The Five Cs are Related to the “Four Essential Elements”*
The Cs of PYD The 4 Essential Elements
Competence  MASTERY
Confidence  INDEPENDENCE
Connection  BELONGING
Character &  GENEROSITY
Caring
*As presented by Dr. Cathann Kress
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

16. Three Key Hypotheses of the 4-H Study
Hypothesis 2.
Across adolescence, positive youth development occurs (that is, youth “thrive”)
when:
The strengths of young people are aligned with the resources for healthy development (“developmental assets”) present in their communities.
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit

17. Three Key Hypotheses of the 4-H Study
Hypothesis 3.
Youth Development (YD) programs constitute key developmental assets promoting PYD.
YD programs are marked by the presence of the “Big 3,” that is:
Sustained, positive adult-youth relations;
Skill building activities;
and Youth participation and leadership.
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4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - Toolkit