Choosing a Youth Survey

Choosing a youth survey that’s right for your organization depends on the type of information you’d like to receive. Search Institute’s surveys are designed to give you actionable data in a simplified process.

Not sure which survey is best for you? Use the charts below to determine which survey best fits your needs. If you have questions, please request assistance.

Search Institute Surveys

 

Developmental
Relationships Survey

Developmental
Relationships Survey
Developmental Assets
Profile (DAP)

Developmental Assets
Profile (DAP)
Youth & Program
Strengths (YAPS)

Youth & Program
Strengths (YAPS)
Attitudes & Behaviors
Survey (A&B)

Attitudes & Behaviors
Survey (A&B)
Recommended Users Youth programs, Schools,
Youth-Serving Organizations
Youth Programs, Schools,
Communities, Youth-Serving Organizations
Youth Programs, Schools,
Communities, Youth Serving Organizations
Communities, Schools, Coalitions,
Community Initiatives, Municipalities, Public Health Organizations,
Prevention Organizations
What it Measures Developmental Relationships, Social Emotional Competencies,
and Equitable Practices
Young people’s strengths and supports (their Developmental Assets®).It provides a holistic view of thriving and well being and shows youth perspectives across the contexts of their lives: Personal, Peers, Family, School, and Community. The 8 categories of Developmental Assets Profile (external supports and internal strengths) as well as additional items focusing on qualities determined in research as integral to high-performing youth programs. Young people’s’ external supports & internal strengths, key non-cognitive skills, high-risk behaviors, risk behavior patterns, thriving indicators and deficits.

Used to answer questions about attitudes, school climate, boundaries and expectations, structured time use and behaviors. Approved by the DFC National Evaluation Team to capture the Four Core Measures for the Drug-Free Communities Grant

Grades 4-12+ (to Age 21) 4-12 6-12 6-12
Minimum Youth Needed for Report 30 30 30 50
How administered Online Online or paper Online or paper Online
Questions Varied based upon your selection. At Minimum 36. Likert scale. 58 Likert Scale 98 Likert Scale 160 Items
Time to Complete Varied based upon selection. 15 minutes at minimum. 10 minutes 15 minutes 30 minutes
Validated as a pre- and post-measure? No, in the process of validating as pre/post measure. Yes Yes No (Primarily used as a snapshot in time or for review of trends)
Optionally Includes
  • Staff Component
  • Additional
  • Modules (Can choose up to 2 for $100)
  • COVID-19 (FREE)
  • Racial Injustice (FREE)
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Assets
  • Civic Engagement
  • Academic
  • Drug Free Communities – 4 Core Measures
  • Character Strengths
  • School Climate
  • Individual Data File
  • Aggregate of multiple sites
  • Data planning consult on site or via phone
  • Data presentation
  • Professional development workshops • Related print publications
  • Four Core Measures for the Drug Free Communities Grant
  • Available in English, Spanish & other languages (Please call to inquire)
  • Individual Data File
  • Aggregate of multiple sites • Data planning consult
  • Data presentation (What’s Up With Our Kids)
  • Professional Development workshops with your data
  • Individually scored data file
  • Aggregate report(s) of multiple sites
  • Data planning consult on site or via phone
  • Data presentation
  • Professional Development workshops
Site Report Cost $250 (includes up to 100 surveys) $250 (includes up to 100 surveys) $300 (includes up to 100 surveys) $400 (includes up to 100 surveys)
Additional survey cost (beyond first included 100 surveys) $2.00 for up to 400 additional. $1.50 per survey in excess of 400 additional surveys. $2.00 $2.50 $3.50

 

 

Learn More About What our Surveys Measure

Note: The REACH survey doesn’t measure developmental assets so it’s not included on this chart. Please see the REACH survey page for more information.

Developmental Assets Profile

A brief strength-based survey typically used for measuring internal strengths and external supports in your young people and how they change over time.

Attitudes & Behaviors

Provides a broad snapshot in time of your young people’s attitudes, behaviors, and experiences.

Youth and Program Strengths

Evaluate your program quality and integrate youth perspectives into your work.

Support

Are your young people surrounded by people who love, care for, appreciate, and accept them?

Empowerment

Are your young people valued, safe, and respected?

Boundaries & Expectations

Do your young people have clear rules, consistent consequences for breaking rules, and encouragement to do their best?

Constructive Use of Time

Do your young people have opportunities – outside of school – to learn and develop new skills and interests with other youth and adults?

Commitment to Learning

Do your young people have a sense of the lasting importance of learning and a belief in their own abilities?

Positive Values

Do your young people have strong guiding values or principles to help them make healthy life choices?

Social Competence

Do your young people have the skills to interact effectively with others, to make decisions, and to cope with new situations?

Positive Identity

Do your young people believe in their own self-worth and feel that they have control over the things that happen to them?

Risk Behaviors

Are your young people participating in behaviors that compromise a young person’s well being?

Developmental Deficits

Are there negative influences or realities in your young people’s lives that make it more difficult for them to develop healthy, caring, and productive ways?

Thriving Indicators

Are your young people involved in life-enhancing attitudes and behaviors?

DFC Four Core Measures

Measures required of Drug Free Community grantees around specific drug use and perceptions of risk associated with their use.

Physical and Psychological Safety

Do young people feel afraid of bodily harm or emotional bullying while in your program activities or while going to and from your program?

Providing Appropriate Structure

Is the program well-run and organized, with sufficient dependability and structure? Do young people know “how things are done here” and what to expect? Do young people feel the program is responding to their needs?

Providing Supporting Relationships

Do young people have good relationships with adults and other youth in the program?

Providing Opportunities to Belong

Do young people feel accepted and welcome, that they “fit in,” that your program is inviting, and that it is a place that values them with all their quirks and imperfections?

Building Positive Social Norms

Do youth experience of positive social norms in your program (such as expectations to be helpful, solve conflicts peacefully, and avoid alcohol and other drugs)?

Supporting Efficacy and Mattering

How often do youth have opportunities to feel competent in your program? How often are they invited to do things like contribute opinions or help make decisions about program activities?

Providing Opportunities for Skill Building

How much is the program helping young people to grow in their capacities and expertise?

Integrating Family, School, and Community Efforts

Does the program send messages to young people that it is a partner with families, schools, and other programs? Does the program provide opportunities for parents and families to be involved?

Get an Estimate

Click here for our Survey Estimate form, or download a fill-in pdf form.

Expectations of Survey Users

Collecting survey data from young people requires following ethical, legal, and professional standards in order to protect young people and to generate quality results that can be used with confidence. Search Institute survey users must adhere to these professional standards for survey research. See the expectations of survey users and the Survey terms and conditions.