Youth Development Research

The 4-H Youth Development Program brings together many academically trained program and research faculty and resources in youth development. Here are research and evaluation resources for 4-H and other youth development professionals. Be sure to visit the recent research and research centers pages.

Evaluation and Assessment Tools

Evaluation Checklists: Refereed checklists from The Evaluation Cetner, Western Michigan University.

Enhancing Program Performance with Logic Models: A resource from Univ. of Wisconsin - Extension for teaching and training about logic models.

Participatory Evaluation with Young People: Tools developed by researchers at the University of Michigan include a free, downloadable facilitator’s guide and youth workbook. The tools are designed to aid young people who want to learn how to create action and change through program evaluation, assessment, or other kinds of studies.

Youth and Adult Leaders for Program Excellence (YALPE) - A Practical Guide for Assessment and Program Planning: A resource guide that is appropriate for community-based youth organizations that are seeking to enhance program quality.  YALPE involves youth with adults in evaluation and action planning.  It is grounded in research on best practices and has been extensively piloted.

Building Partnerships for Youth: Program Assessment Tool: On-line tool to assess the youth development components of programs. Includes pointers and resources to increase a program’s ability to be truly supportive of youth development.  

Children, Youth and Families Education and Research Network: Provides tools and resources to help evaluate community-based programs.

Enhancing Program Performance With Logic Models: On-line course with a holistic approach to planning and evaluating education and outreach programs.

Evaluation Tip Sheets: Series of tip sheets on topics related to evaluation, including focus groups, process evaluation, and many other titles.

Evaluating the National Outcomes:  Part of CYFERnet-Evaluation, it features overviews of constructs related to developing social competencies and reducing risk behaviors in youth. Includes a description of the outcome and measures and a bibliography.

Planning and Evaluation Resource Center: Developed by the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, Tufts University; the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development; and Social Policy Research Associates; the site features tutorials and tools on program planning and evaluation.

Youth Program Self Assessment: An assessment tool designed for use with community youth development programs. Identifies features of positive developmental settings. Developed by researchers at Penn State and the University of Arizona.

See also...
4-H Programs and Results