Recent Research and Writing

Search Institute’s latest published findings.

2024

Research-to-Practice Publications

Boat, A. A., Van Steenis, E., Poparad, H. (2024). Positioning Mentors as Social Capital Builders [Insights & Evidence Series]. Minneapolis, MN.

2023

Research-to-Practice Publications

Boat, A. A., Hsieh, D., Wu, C-Y, Poparad, H, & Opakunle, F. (2023). Illuminating Positive Mechanisms: An Impact Evaluation of the DREAM program (Report to the Corporation for National and Community Service). Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Boat, A.A., Poparad, H., Hsieh, D. (2023). Mentoring Relationships as Catalysts for Strengthening Youth Social Capital: Findings from DREAM’s Village Mentoring Program. Search Institute.

2022

Research-to-Practice Publications

Hsieh, D. (2022). Embedding research-based practices: Learnings from the TUTOR Project. Search Institute.

Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Houltberg, B. J (2022). The elements of Developmental
Relationships: A review of selected research underlying the framework
. Search Institute.

Boat, A. A., Scott, A., Scales, P. C., & Syvertsen, A. K. (2022). A Comparison of Contexts: How the Performing Arts, Sports, and Nature Conservation Foster Positive Youth Development. Search Institute.

2021

Research-to-Practice Publications

Search Institute (2021). Building Relationships and Addressing Trauma During the COVID-19 Pandemic [Insights & Evidence Series]. Minneapolis, MN.

Boat, A. A., Syvertsen A. K., & Eisenberg, C. (2021). The State of Relationships: Young People’s Relationships with Adults in Minnesota Schools and Out-of-School Time Programs. [Insights & Evidence Series]. Minneapolis: Search Institute. Report for the Carlson Family Foundation.

2020

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Chamberlain, R., Scales, P., & Sethi, J. (2020). Competing discourses of power in teachers’ stories of challenging relationships with students. Power and Education, 1-18. doi:10.1177/1757743820931118.

Scales, P. C., Van Boekel, M., Pekel, K., Syvertsen, A. K., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2020). Effects of developmental relationships on middle-school students’ motivation and performance. Psychology in the Schools. Doi.org/10.1002/pits.22350

Sethi, J., & Scales, P. C. (2020). Developmental relationships and school success: How teachers, parents, and friends affect educational outcomes and what actions students say matter most. Contemporary Educational Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2020.101904

Shubert, J., Houltberg B., Ratchford, J., & Schnitker, S. (2020). Examinations of Change in Inhibitory and Initiatory Self-Control in the Context of Endurance Running. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. doi: 10.1080/10413200.2020.1787553

Pashak, T. J., Handal, P., & Scales, P. C. (2020). Positive development on campus: Investigating the psychometric properties of the College Assets Measurement Profile for Undergraduate Students. Journal of College Student Development, 61(4), 474-491. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2020.005

Jennifer Shubert, Juliette Ratchford, Benjamin Houltberg & Sarah Schnitker (2020) Differentiation as discrepancies in adolescent’s perceptions of patience: An illustration of response surface analysis, The Journal of Positive Psychology, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2020.1858334

Research-to-Practice Publications

Search Institute (2020). The Intersection of Developmental Relationships, Equitable Environments, and SEL [Insights & Evidence Series]. Minneapolis, MN: Author.

Scales, P.C., Boat, A., & Pekel, K. (2020). Defining and Measuring Social Capital for Young People: A Practical Review of the Literature on Resource-Full Relationships. Minneapolis: Search Institute. Report for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Boat, A., Sethi, J., Eisenberg, C., & Chamberlain, R. (2020). “It Was a Support Network System that Made Me Believe in Myself”: Understanding Youth and Young Adults’ Experiences of Social Capital in Six Innovative Programs. Minneapolis: Search Institute. Report for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

2019

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Blyth, D. A. (2019). Developmental assets. In D. T. L. Shek
 & J. Leung (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development: Volume 7: History, Theory, & Culture in Adolescence. New York, NY: Wiley.

Scales, P. C., Pekel, K., Sethi, J., Chamberlain, R., & Van Boekel, M. (2019). Academic year changes in student-teacher developmental relationships and their linkage to middle and high school students’ motivation: A mixed methods study. The Journal of Early Adolescence. 1-38. doi:10.1177/0272431619858414

Sullivan, T. K., & Syvertsen, A. K. (2019). Conservation leadership: A developmental model. Journal of Adolescent Research, 34(2), 140-166. doi:10.1177/0743558417752638

Syvertsen, A. K., Scales, P. C., & Toomey, R. B. (2019). The developmental assets framework revisited: Confirmatory analysis and invariance testing to create a new generation of assets measures for applied research, Applied Developmental Science [online first], 1-19. doi:10.1080/10888691.2019.1613155

Toomey, R. B., Syvertsen, A. K., & Flores, M. (2019). Are developmental assets protective against suicidal behavior? Differential associations by sexual orientation. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(4), 788-801. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-0954-y

Shubert, J., Wray-Lake, L., Syvertsen, A. K., & Metzger, A. (2019). The role of family civic
context in character development across childhood and adolescence
Applied
Developmental Science. doi: 10.1080/10888691.2019.1683452

Research-to-Practice Publications

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2019). A place to belong: How youth think about growing up—and staying—in the Itasca area. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute, and Grand Rapids, MN: SPARK—Stronger Futures for All.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2019). Good friends … Online & in person: How Itasca area youth think about friends and social media. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute, and Grand Rapids, MN: SPARK—Stronger Futures for All.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2019). Helping kids thrive at home: How Itasca area youth experience strength and resilience in their relationships with parents and grandparents. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2019). Learning through relationships: How strong connections with teachers propel student motivation in school. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute, and Grand Rapids, MN: SPARK—Stronger Futures for All.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2019). Opportunities to grow: Relationships, activities, interests, and activities that engage Itasca area youth beyond the school day. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute, and Grand Rapids, MN: SPARK—Stronger Futures for All.

Scales, P. C. (2019, Feb. 22). Keep the fun in youth sports by helping kids love the game more than how they perform. [Blog for the Positive Coaching Alliance.]

Scales, P. C. (2019). Mental and emotional training for tennis: Compete—learn—honor. Monterey, CA: Coaches Choice.

Pashak, T. J., Handal, P., & Scales, P.C. (in press). Positive development on campus: Investigating the psychometric properties of the College Assets Measurement Profile for Undergraduate Students. Journal of College Student Development.

Pekel, K. (2019). Moving Beyond Relationships Matter: An Overview of One Organization’s Work in Progress. Journal of Youth Development 14(4) doi:10.5195/jyd.2019.909 [Download]

2018

Peer-Reviewed Publications

D’Sa, N., Scales, P. C., & Gebru, E. (2018). Developmental approach to work readiness for youth: Focus on transferable skills. In S. Verma & A. Petersen (Eds.), Developmental Science and Sustainable Development Goals for Children and Youth. Social Indicators Research Series, vol. 74 (pp. 207-221). New York, NY: Springer.

Pekel, K., Roehlkepartain, E. C., Syvertsen, A. K., Scales, P. C., Sullivan, T. K., & Sethi, J. (2018). Finding the fluoride: Examining how and why developmental relationships are the active ingredient in interventions that work. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 88(5), 493-502. doi:10.1037/ort0000333 [Download pre-publication version.]

Scales, P. C. (2018). Developmental assets and developmental relationships. In M. H. Bornstein (Ed.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Lifespan Human Development (pp. 564-566). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. doi:10.4135/9781506307633.n211

Scales, P. C., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2018). The contribution of nonfamily adults to adolescent well-being: A global research and policy perspective. In J. E. Lansford & P. Banati (Eds.), Handbook of Adolescent Development Research and Its Impact on Global Policy (pp. 150-170). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Sullivan, T. K., Saito, R. N., & Chamberlain, R. (2018). Youth voice, engagement, and opportunities for decision-making. In P. A. Witt & L. L. Caldwell (Eds.), Youth Development: Principles and Practices in Out-of-School Time Settings (pp. 431-462). Urbana, IL: Sagamore-Ventures Publishing.

Toomey, R. B., Syvertsen, A. K., & Shramko, M. (2018). Transgender adolescent suicide behavior. Pediatrics, 142(4), e20174218.

Warren, M. T., Wray-Lake, L., & Syvertsen, A. K. (2018). Becoming who they want to be: A cross-national examination of value-behavior concordance and mindfulness in adolescence. Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(6), 605-616. http://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2017.1350741

Wray-Lake, L., Wells, R., Alvis, L., Delgado, S., Syvertsen, A. K., & Metzger, A. (2018). Being a Latinx adolescent under a Trump presidency: Analysis of Latinx youth’s reactions to immigration politics. Children and Youth Services Review. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.032

Metzger, A., Alvis, L. M., Oosterhoff, B., Babskie, E., Syvertsen, A. K., & Wray-Lake, L. (2018). The intersection of emotional and sociocognitive competencies with civic engagement in middle childhood and adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47(8), 1663-1683. doi: 10.1007/s10964-018-0842-5

Shubert, J., Wray-Lake, L., Syvertsen, A. K., & Metzger, A. (2018). Examining character structure and function across childhood and adolescence. Child Development, 90(40, 505-524. doi: 10.1111/cdev.13035

Warren, M. T., Wray-Lake, L., & Syvertsen, A. K. (2018). Becoming who they want to be: A cross-national examination of value-behavior concordance and mindfulness in adolescence. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1-12. doi:10.1080/17439760.2017.1350741

Research-to-Practice Publications

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2018, Sept. 18). Digging into family relationships: What really matters? [Blog for the National Center for Families Learning.]

Scales, P. C., & Pekel, K. (2018, Feb. 14). Remember the relationships: The missing link that makes measures of students’ social and emotional learning more understandable and actionable. [Blog for the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning.]

2017

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Drescher, C. F., Johnson, L. R., Kurz, A. S., Scales, P. C., & Kiliho, R. P. (2017). A developmental assets approach in East Africa: Can Swahili measures capture adolescent strengths and supports? Child & Youth Care Forum, 41(1), 23-43. doi:10.1007/s10566-017-9415-0

Pashak, T. J., Handal, P. J., & Scales, P. C. (2017). Protective factors for the college years: Establishing the appropriateness of the Developmental Assets Model for emerging adults. Current Psychology, 37(1), 45-57. doi:10.1007/s12144-016-9488-1.

Schwartz, K. D., Theron, L. C., & Scales, P. C. (2017). Seeking and finding positive youth development among Zulu youth in South African townships. Child Development 88(4), 1079-1086. http://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12869 

Research-to-Practice Publications

Pekel, K. (2017, May) The Recipe of Youth Success [Stanford Social Innovation Review] Stanford University, and Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society.

Pekel, K. (2017). Getting relationships right: 55 leaders discuss what it will take to create schools and youth programs where developmental relationships thrive. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2017). Beyond the family: How Itasca Area adults can–and do–create caring, strong connections with youth. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute, and Grand Rapids, MN: SPARK—Stronger Futures for All.

Roehlkepartain, E. C., Pekel, K., Syvertsen, A. K., Sethi, J., Sullivan, T. K., & Scales, P. C. (2017). Relationships first: Creating connections that help young people thrive. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.34486.09282

Roehlkepartain, E. C., Syvertsen, A. K., & Yu, C.-W. (2017). A snapshot of developmental relationships between parents and youth. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Scales, P. C. (2017). High-quality OST activities and programs: Using the RISE approach (Relationships, interests and sparks, and empowerment) to promote thriving in youth and their settings. In H. J. Malone & T. Donahue (Eds.), The Growing Out-of-School Time Field: Past, Present, and Future (pp. 25-46). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Domitrovich, C. E., Syvertsen, A. K., & Calin, S. S. (2017). Promoting social and emotional learning in the middle and high school years. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Issue brief. State College, PA: Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University.

2016

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Perkins, D. F., Syvertsen, A. K., Mincemoyer, C., Chilenski, S. M., Olson, J. R., Berrena, E., … & Spoth, R. (2016). Thriving in school: The role of sixth-grade adolescent–parent–school relationships in predicting eighth-grade academic outcomes. Youth & Society, 48(6), 739-762. doi: 10.1177/0044118X13512858

Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., Oesterle, S., Hill, K., Hawkins, J.D., & Pashak, T. J. (2016). The dimensions of successful young adult development: A conceptual and measurement framework. Applied Developmental Science, 20 (3), 150-174. doi:10.1080/10888691.2015.1082429.

Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Shramko, M. (2016). Aligning youth development theory, measurement, and practice across cultures and contexts: Lessons from use of the Developmental Assets Profile. Child Indicators Research, 10(4), 1145–1178. doi:10.1080/10888691.2015.1082429

Scales, P. C., Shramko, M., & Ashburn, K. (2016). Developmental assets and sexual and reproductive health among 10-to 14-year-olds in Northern Uganda. International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 7(1), 45-64. doi:10.18357/ijcyfs.71201615416

Spier, E. T., Britto, P.R., Pigott T., Roehlkepartain, E. C., McCarthy, M, Kidron Y, Song, M., Scales, P. C., Wagner. D., Lane, & J., Glover, J. (2016). Parental, community, and familial support interventions to improve children’s literacy in developing countries: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 4. doi:10.4073/csr.2016.4

Metzger, A., Syvertsen, A. K., Oosterhoff, B., Babskie, E., & Wray-Lake, L. (2016). How children understand civic actions: A mixed methods perspective. Journal of Adolescent Research, 31(5), 507-535. doi: 10.1177/0743558415610002

Shubert, J., Wray-Lake, L., Metzger, A., & Syvertsen, A. K. (2016). Exploring associations of character profiles and out-of-school time activities among children and adolescents. Journal of Character Education, 12(6), 11-27.

Wray-Lake, L., Metzger, A., & Syvertsen, A. K. (2016). Measuring multidimensional constructs from a developmental perspective: An example from the field of civic development. Applied Developmental Science, 21, 266-284. doi: 10.1080/10888691.2016.1205495

Wray-Lake, L., Syvertsen, A. K., & Flanagan, C. A. (2016). Developmental change in social responsibility during adolescence: An ecological perspective. Developmental Psychology, 52, 130-142. doi: 10.1037/dev0000067

Research-to-Practice Publications

Scales, P. C. (2016, May). The crucial coaching relationship. Phi Delta Kappan. 97(8), 19-23.

Scales, P. C. (2019, Feb. 22). Keep the fun in youth sports by helping kids love the game more than how they perform. [Blog for the Positive Coaching Alliance]

Sullivan, T. K., Sethi, J., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2016). The power of peer relationships: A study of peer programs in the United States (summary). Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

2015

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Scales, P. C., Roehlkepartain, E. C., Wallace, T., Inselman, A., Stephenson, P., & Rodriguez, M. (2015). Brief report: Assessing youth well-being in global emergency settings: Early results from the Emergency Developmental Assets Profile. Journal of Adolescence, 45, 98-102. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.09.002

Research-to-Practice Publications

Pekel, K., Roehlkepartain, E. C., Syvertsen, A. K, & Scales, P. C. (2015). Don’t forget the families: The missing piece in America’s effort to help all children succeed. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute. (Summary of Findings)

Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2015). 25 years of developmental assets: Personal reflections (and a little data). Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Syvertsen, A. K., Wu, C.-Y., Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Scales, P. C. (2015). Don’t forget the families—technical appendix. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

Roehlkepartain, E. C., & Syvertsen, A. K. (2014). Family strengths and resilience: Insights from a national study. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 23, 13-18.