Research Provides an Important Foundation for Best Practices of Youth Development

Applied Research and Tools

• 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development
  • The 4-H study of Positive Youth Development: Implications of Developmental Change Across Grades 5, 6, and 7(56 slides, 220 KB) - Positive youth development (PYD) may be conceptualized as involving “Five Cs:” Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring.  Research conducted within the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development provides evidence that, between fifth and seventh grades, and among adolescents from 25 states across the nation, Positive Youth Development is linked to youth participation in after-school programs. Implications of the findings to date for practice and policy and for future research directions were presented by Dr. Richard Lerner at the 2006 National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
• Articles Published from the 4-H Study of Youth Development
  • Alberts, A. E., Christiansen, E. D., Chase, P., Naudeau, S., Phelps, E., & Lerner, R. M. (2006). Qualitative and Quantitative Assessments of Thriving and Contribution in Early Adolescence: Findings from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (11 pages, 302 KB)/Journal of Youth Development/, 1(2).
  • Lerner, R. M., Lerner, J. V., Almerigi, J., Theokas, C., Phelps, E., Gestsdottir, S. Naudeau, S., Jelicic, H., Alberts, A. E., Ma, L., Smith, L. M., Bobek, D. L., Richman-Raphael, D., Simpson, I., Christiansen, E. D., & von Eye, A. (2005). Positive Youth Development, Participation in Community Youth Development Programs, and Community Contributions of Fifth Grade Adolescents: Findings from the First Wave of the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (55 pages, 362 KB)/Journal of Early Adolescence/, 25(1), 17-71.
  • Theokas, C., Almerigi, J., Lerner, R.M., Dowling, E., Benson, P., Scales, P. C., von Eye, A. (2005). Conceptualizing and Modeling Individual and Ecological Asset Components of Thriving in Early Adolescence (31 pages, 162 KB)/Journal of Early Adolescence/, 25(1), 113-143.
  • Theokas, C., & Lerner, R.M. (2006). Observed Ecological Assets in Families, Schools, and Neighborhoods: Conceptualization, Measurement and Relations with Positive and Negative Developmental Outcomes (14 pages, 245 KB)/Applied Developmental Science/, 10(2), 61-74.
  • Theokas, C., Lerner, J. V., Lerner, R.M. & Phelps, E. (2006). Cacophony and Change in Youth After School Activities: Implications for Development and Practice from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (9 pages, 616 KB)/Journal of Youth Development: Bridging Research and Practice/,1(1).
• Involving Your Teen In Decision Making
  This 4-issue newsletter series is designed for parents, and are also useful when working with volunteers and with staff from other local organizations.  The newsletters reflect the best of current research and theory in promoting positive youth development.
• Strengthening Positive Youth Development Environments: Research-Based Frameworks for Extension Educators - This resource provides practical research, planning, assessment and practice tools on positive youth development for Extension educators and others working in community settings. The Framework includes presentations, resource guides, self-assessment tools, re-printable fact sheets for newsletters and training, and other tools.
• Youth and Adult Leaders for Program Excellence - A comprehensive resource kit for those who work with, and on behalf of, young people and for young people themselves. UW-Extension staff members can obtain a copy free of charge by contacting Matt Calvert, 4-H Youth Development Specialist, or Shep Zeldin, Youth and Community Development Specialist.
  • Youth and Adult Leaders for Program Excellence brochure (2 pages, 154 KB) - Order information for public purchase is included in this brochure.
  • PAAT, KidPAAT, YET,  and ORG-YET are self-assessment instruments included in the YALPE curriculum. They are available to UW-Extension staff for download using their UWEX NetID and password.
• What Do Youth Need For Positive Development?
  • The Essential Experiences of Youth Development - Part I (10 pages, 229 KB)
  • Involving Community Members, Policy Makers and Organizations in the Mission of Youth Development - Part II (8 pages, 268 KB)
• Department of Youth Development Publications - Collection of Department of Youth Development publications focused on a variety of youth development topics. Publications are presented in a variety of categories: research, philosophical, evaluative, informational, teaching packet, and idea sheet.
• Research Studies and Historical Information about 4-H Youth Development - This Penn State site includes a searchable database of over 1,700 studies about 4-H, dating from 1911 to 2006. This site also contains historical 4-H information, including poems, songbooks and archives.
• What Works Wisconsin - Research to Practice Briefs are available from the What Works, Wisconsin team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Extension. The Research to Practice Briefs address issues related to juvenile delinquency prevention programs and evidence-based programs in general. In each brief, we synthesize relevant research to help practitioners understand a particular issue and make informed decisions about their own programming.

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