Youth Radio’s DO IT! Initiative Summative Evaluation

Rockman et al (REA), a San Francisco-based research and evaluation firm, conducted the external evaluation for Youth Radio's DO IT! program, which was funded by the National Science Foundation. Building upon Youth Radio's previous Science and Technology Program, the DO IT! initiative consisted of three primary components that promoted STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning by training underserved youth in cutting-edge digital technologies: (1) Brains and Beakers: Young people hosted a line-up of investigators and inventors for demo-dialogues at Youth Radio's studios and produced media documenting these unexpected encounters with science in action; (2) Mobile Action Lab: In partnership with professional engineers and designers, young people developed new digital technologies and applications for online and mobile platforms; (3) Youth Radio Investigates: Young people collaborated with scientists to carry out original data collection and reporting for major media outlets. The DO IT! evaluation included formative elements designed to provide feedback on the program, and summative elements intended to measure STEM-related outcomes – specifically how participation in grant activities affected the youths' STEM skills, knowledge, and attitudes. Over the course of the project, evaluators gathered data on the implementation and impact of program activities, as well as the cumulative effects of the program, through such means as observations, surveys, interviews, and focus groups.