Original Goals of the Study
The primary goals of the study are to create a framework that
enables the evaluation of outreach programs by proving, disproving
and qualifying the nine propositions; to look at how effective
criteria are structured and delivered, to analyze their impact on
program success and examine their relative costs; to evaluate why
certain criteria are not effective; and to impact policy and
practice by creating a "scorecard" to be used by college
preparation program practitioners and their funders as a way to
determine the success of particular programs.
Original Project Design
Qualitative research will produce fine-grained data aimed at
assessing the effectiveness of college outreach programs. The
units of analysis for the study are MESA (Mathematics,
Engineering, Science Achievement) programs in California. The MESA
program was chosen because its mission encompasses the nine
scorecard propositions, the participants in the program represent
a diverse demographic mix, and the program is implemented in all
segments of primary, secondary and higher education. The
three-year project encompasses the following research components:
- Literature review: A
literature review will be conducted pertaining to the nine
propositions.
- Six longitudinal, cross-site
case studies: Staff, teachers and students at each site will
be observed and interviewed six to ten times during the course of
the year. Students will be tracked in order to follow their post
secondary education paths.
- Supplemental interviews:
Influential, non-academic networks will be studied by interviewing
family members, community organizations, peers, and other
interested stakeholders.
- Organizational documentation
and program resource costs tracking: Case histories on each
program participant and budget templates on case income,
expenditures, and in-kind contributions will be created in order
to analyze the cost effectiveness of program components.
- Cultural biographies: Life
histories will be conducted in order to gain insight into the
dynamics that contribute to success or failure of students in
outreach programs.
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