Planning and Measurement in School to Work Transition

An analysis, development, and research (ADR) approach for planning educational research and development programs was used as a model for planning the National Institute of Education's School-To-Work Transition Program. The ADR model is system oriented and utilizes an iterative approach in which research questions are raised as others are answered. Four levels of analyses (further definition of NIE program goals to include specific behaviors, definition of direct treatments to achieve goals, test treatments in a work situation, and adjust treatments after populations and contexts of program operation are analyzed) are combined in a fifth level where a complete program is presented. Answers to questions left unanswered by the model in the school-to-work context were sought using measures in six areas: identifying and monitoring changes in the societal problem (using existing surveys); collecting data for hypothesis generation (using existing longitudinal studies); identifying and legitimizing desired outcomes (using an appropriate existing set of objectives); identifying and screening entering populations; ensuring integrity and replicability of treatments for individuals and institutions; and determining achievement of student outcomes and transfering control of evaluation to the students themselves. (Additional relevant materials are contained in appendixes.) (AG)