Project TRUE Year 1 Research Report

January 15th, 2016 | RESEARCH

Project TRUE seeks to increase the interest of high school students in pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors by increasing participants’ exposure to urban ecology research conducted with college mentors. The Lifelong Learning Group is conducting research that explores the program’s longer-term influence on academic and career choices. More specifically, the research addresses the question: How do the four key elements of youth development in Project TRUE contribute to pursuit of advanced STEM study and career path in the short- and medium-term? This report presents baseline findings (relating to questions 1 and 3) established in the project’s first year. Data sources include an on line post-program questionnaire completed by the 44 first year participants; pre-program enrollment applications; and project records. The post-program questionnaire included psychometrically sound scales to measure perceived mentorship quality; motivational quality of participation (as measured by basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration); TRUE influence on career choice; outside influences on choices and decision making; science Interest; and perceived changes in positive youth development (including science and research skills; identity; leadership; community and environment; and habits).

Document

Project-TRUE-2015-Research-Report-FINAL.pdf

Team Members

Joe E Heimlich, Author, Lifelong Learning Group
Deborah Wasserman, Author, Lifelong Learning Group

Funders

Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: AISL
Award Number: 1421017

Related URLs

Collaborative Research: Project TRUE

Tags

Access and Inclusion: Urban
Audience: Evaluators | Learning Researchers | Museum | ISE Professionals | Undergraduate | Graduate Students | Youth | Teen (up to 17)
Discipline: Ecology | forestry | agriculture | Education and learning science
Resource Type: Reference Materials | Report | Research Products
Environment Type: Aquarium and Zoo Programs | Higher Education Programs | Informal | Formal Connections | Public Programs