Building Research Capacity
As researchers committed to action, we work with organizations and individuals to expand their capacity to conduct practical research. We have worked with students, parents, communities, schools, and non-profit organizations to train them in relevant quantitative and qualitative research methods and to help them recognize how high-quality research can expand their capacity in other ways. Because we believe in the power of student voices, we have put a particular priority on empowering students to do research, including multiple youth action research projects as well as operating an Action Research Summer Camp.
Selected Projects
The Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is overseeing 11 Student Success Centers, which are located in the city’s comprehensive high schools and designed to assist students to get and stay on track to college. RFA is conducting a mixed-methods evaluation focused on examining the scope and depth of services offered, as well as tracking key educational outcomes.
In October 2009, Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) launched a pilot GED to College (GTC) initiative. Four unique providers, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, District 1199c Training and Upgrading Fund, People for People, Inc. (PFP), and Youth Empowerment Services (YES), were selected by a panel of PYN staff and local stakeholders to provide GED preparation, coordinate GED testing, and provide college preparation to a cohort of GTC students. After conducting pilot research on this initiative, RFA is continuing its evaluation of these efforts, with a particular focus on examining its impact on student attendance and success in college.
Congreso is a non-profit social service organization in Philadelphia that has a long history of working with children and youth in the Philadelphia School System as well as the Juvenile Justice system. RFA is currently conducting a longitudinal mixed method study of Congreso's Edison Project, an intervention for at-risk students at Edison High School. The evaluation, which involves a process study as well as a comparative student outcomes study, will follow one cohort of youth for four years, beginning when they enter in 9th grade. The evaluation will determine the impact of this program on students and provide formative feedback to Congreso.
The Cross City Campaign for Urban School Reform and RFA developed the Indicators Framework, which is being used to document the impact of community organizing for school reform. RFA has used the Indicators Framework in case studies of five community-organizing groups nationwide to portray these groups\' achievements in moving forward the process of school improvement and strengthening school/community connections.
RFA provided the PMA education staff with a series of professional development sessions. The sessions focused on the skills and practices of program assessment and evaluation. The research focused on two Museum programs: an after-school arts club for middle school students and a program that employs a series of arts posters and their curriculum in individual teacher classrooms. Museum staff wanted to learn more about the impact and value of these programs, as well as answer larger questions concerning the role that art (and the Museum) plays in the lives of Philadelphia public school students and their families. Museum staff did the bulk of the fieldwork, analysis of data, and writing up of the final report, with RFA staff serving primarily as coaches and consultants.
YUC is a group of Philadelphia students organizing to change their high schools. RFA was asked to interview the students and adults with whom YUC worked closely and to create a summary of different perspectives on YUC so that YUC could use this information as it continued its work and planned for the future. RFA also provided YUC with technical assistance around research skills and assisted the students in writing research papers required for graduation. From this work, the researcher developed a Guide to facilitating action research for youth, which was created to aid youth activists and youth development organizations that are using research as a tool to engage youth in school reform and develop their leadership and literacy skills.
