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Session Title: Youth Participatory Evaluation: The Perspectives of Youth Researchers and Evaluators
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Panel Session 850 to be held in Suwannee 11 on Saturday, Nov 14, 1:40 PM to 3:10 PM
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Sponsored by the Extension Education Evaluation TIG
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| Chair(s): |
| David White, Oregon State University, david.white@oregonstate.edu
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| Discussant(s):
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| Kim Sabo Flores, Kim Sabo Consulting, kimsabo@aol.com
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| Abstract:
Youth-led research is receiving increased interest as an engaging pathway to adolescent development. The ability for youth to participate in an evaluative process is believed to positively impact cognitive abilities, organizational capacity, intergenerational relationships, socially just and democratic processes, diversity, mattering, and self reflection. However, youth involvement in research and evaluation remains a relatively underdeveloped and underexplored field of practice and subject of study. This panel, led by 4-H youth researchers will provide youth development practitioners with an example of youth-led research focused on a community action project. Youth presenters will define their roles as researchers and evaluators, provide their perspectives on the successes and challenges related to a research and evaluation process, and make recommendations for best practice. This youth-led panel presentation and discussion is intended for evaluators and practitioners interested in developing and exploring youth-led research as a way of lifting youth voices within their programs and communities.
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Getting a Youth-led Research Team Organized
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| Netti Knowles, Deschutes County 4-H, family@knowlescreek.com
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As a 4-H member, I was asked to participate in a youth-led research study. Through projects and activities, my 4-H group developed competence, confidence, connection, character, caring and contribution in a fun and meaningful way. I used my writing and desktop publishing skills to help create an informational flyer. The flyer invites people to participate in an event hosted by our youth led research group. Our group presented and distributed the flyers to local high schools in the Bend/La Pine district. I enjoyed the marketing aspects of our project. During the event planning, I helped organize a mock forum and participated in the decision making process. My presentation will be focused on the organization of a participatory research team.
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Organizing, Analyzing, and Interpreting Data
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| Anna Shoffner, Deschutes County 4-H, lynshof@ykwc.net
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I was originally commissioned to be a part of a research project by the Proposer which would study the development of several characteristics (namely competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution) in youth over a period of time as we were involved in youth led research and evaluation. As a member of this Youth Led Research Team I organized and arranged for facilities for our research project and helped recruit youth to be a part of our community forum. I will be responsible for discussing institutional review boards and the organization, analysis, and interpretation of data.
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Sharing Research Results With Others
| Madison Mills, Deschutes County 4-H, madi.mills@yahoo.com
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As part of a Youth Led Research project I participated in surveys, took part in a two day intensive training, and finally, put together and held a forum with my colleges. In the forum planning process a main role of mine was to write the grant proposal to fund the forum. The writing of the proposal involved a great deal of communication with my peers, layers of paper work, and articulate writing. I will be presenting information on the process of writing the grant proposal and sharing research results with others.
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Taking Action Based on What Was Learned
| Kendall Johnson, Deschutes County 4-H, kendallj@bendbroadband.com
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At the request of the proposer, I became involved in this research project, designed to study the changes in competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution. Over the course of a year I helped plan and execute a youth-led community forum. As a part of this research project I became involve in overall planning and organization of the forum, as well as introducing and note-taking portions of the forum itself. The key topic I will present is related to taking action based on what was learned from the research project.
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