Ask Survey Girl!

Ask Survey Girl

2-2011
Dear Survey Girl,

I purchased the Developmental Assets Profile to use with my after-school program. I gave them a pre-test on the first day of the program and am getting ready to give them a post-test when the program ends in two weeks. If I see any change between their scale scores, how will I know that it is significant? For example, if the score for Social Competency was 21.1 at the pre-test and 21.9 at the post-test, does that count as “significant” change?

Wondering,
Data-Abled Program

Dear DAP,

First, you didn’t say what the duration of your program is. If it’s at least 3 months, then you’re okay giving the DAP as a post-test. [more]


1-25-2011
Survey Girl debuts a new feature, Assetizr! [more]


1-2011
Hi Survey Girl,

Do you have any recent national data on the assets? The data you have online is from 2003 and a little old. Don’t you think it’s old? We need something more recent to compare to our survey results. Wouldn’t a more recent sample give you better data? Why don’t you have something more recent? Why? Why?

From,
Wonder How You [can do research with old data]

Dear WHY,

Alright, already! Your requests have been heard! [more]


8-2010
What does Survey Girl do in the summer?

Survey Girl answers this question for the August edition of YouthSense [more]


3-2010
Dear Survey Girl,

In looking at our A&B reports and doing some additional reading on the Developmental Assets, it notes that asset levels tend to decrease over time. Why is there an overall decrease in assets for youth as they get older (from 6th to 12th grade)?

Clever Acronym

Dear Clever,

To answer your question, I consulted with our Senior Research Fellow, Dr. Peter Scales. Since he puts things so perfectly science-y, here is his exact answer: [more]


2-2010
Hi Survey Girl,

Is the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP) appropriate in a juvenile justice setting?

Just Understanding Variances in Engagement

Dear JUVIE,

Like any of our surveys, the appropriateness depends on what things you’d like to measure or what data you’d like to yield. [more]


1-2010
Dear Survey Girl,

We just received our Attitudes and Behaviors results from the survey we administered last fall and we’re wondering if we can publish them in our local newspaper.

More Engagement Desired In Adults

Dear MEDIA,

You absolutely can publish your survey results in any media format! In fact, we encourage you to share the results with your community [more]


12-2009
Dear Survey Girl,

Is the Attitudes and Behaviors survey available online?

Not Enough Technology

Dear NET,

The bad news is that the A&B survey is currently not available online. The good news is that it will be in the nearish future. [more]


10-2009
Surveys at the Conference [more]


9-2009
Is Cincy ready for Survey Girl? [more]


8-2009
Dear Survey Girl,

Hello from Alberta! My region wants to implement the assets and we thought surveying the students with the Attitudes and Behaviors would be a good start. The thing is, we’ve looked through the survey and a few of the choice options do not pertain to Canadian students. For example, we would say “First Nation” instead of “Native American” for race. How can we change the survey?

Sincerely,
Positive Relationships Or Values In Neighborhood Children Elate

Dear PROVINCE,

We recognize that the survey is most useful when it is culturally appropriate, so we do allow changes to be made in the wording of some questions or response options. [more]


7-2009
Dear Survey Girl,

I work in a facility that focuses primarily on young adults ages 16 to 24. Do you have any surveys for that age range?

Sincerely,
Yearning for Assets

Hi YA,

To obfuscate in the worst way, the answer is yes and no. [more]


6-2009
Survey Girl wants to hear from you!


4-2009
Dear Survey Girl,

I was looking at using the Developmental Assets Profile with my juvenile justice program. What is the difference between the group DAP and the individual DAP?

Sincerely,
Great values Inspire

Hi G v I,

There is no difference between the individual DAP and the group DAP in terms of the survey itself. Both surveys are exactly the same. The differences lie in the scoring and what data you want to yield. [more]


3-2009
Dear Survey Girl,

We are planning on doing the Me and My World survey with our elementary students in May. We want to survey as many students as we can and use the results in our planning for next school year. Since we are at the end of the year, can we survey the 3rd graders and consider them 4th graders so they can take the survey?

Sincerely,
Mulling Many Ways

Hi MMW,

No. The Me and My World survey is appropriate for grades 4 to 6 and should only be used with grades 4 to 6. Yes, at the end of the year, the 3rd graders have likely amassed all of the skills to make them ready for 4th grade, but only real, live 4th graders can take the survey. [more]


2-2009
Dear Survey Girl,

Our district will be doing the Me and My World survey this spring and I’m currently in the process of figuring out what we need to order. I know we want the aggregate report, but what is a sub-report? Do I need to order one?

Sincerely,
Developmental Assets Tame Adolescents

Hi DATA,

That’s a good question. I mean, why would you spend $500 for a sub-report if you’re not sure you need it, right? [more]


1-2009
Dear Survey Girl,

I coordinate an after-school program for students in grades 1 through 5. I want to survey my students to measure their Developmental Assets, but I don’t see anything on your Web site for students younger than 4th grade. Does Search Institute have any surveys for younger students?

Thanks,
Keeping It Developmentally Sound

Hi KIDS,

This is a really common question. Most of our surveys are designed for use with youth in grades 6 to 12. One survey, Me and My World, can be used with students in grades 4 to 6, but we don’t have surveys for students in grades 3 and below.[more]


12-2008
Dear Survey Girl,

Our school did the Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors two years ago and we want to see if our assets have gone up since then. I’ve heard that we shouldn’t use the A&B to show change over time, though. Is that true?

Sincerely,
All Students Surveyed Engaged Their Spark

Dear ASSETS,

The A&B survey should not be used to measure change over time or as a pre/post test. This is true for [more]


11-2008
Dear Survey Girl,

My school district is thinking of using the Attitudes & Behaviors survey to assess our junior high students; however, my superintendent is skeptical that the students will answer the survey truthfully. What can I tell her to assure her of the quality of our data?

From,
Asset Builder

An excellent question, AB! The answer is: our scientists already thought of that! Search Institute uses [more]



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