(1) Youth Voice and Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)
Youth should be meaningfully included and engaged in conversations about policies that directly affect them. The purpose of this study is to understand and strengthen conditions to improve the use of YPAR evidence in school/district decision-making processes. YPAR is an approach that engages young people as researchers to study and address social problems within their community. This study is a collaboration between 7 school districts across the U.S. This work is connected to a separate project in partnership with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to reduce chronic absenteeism and incorporate youth voice in district decision-making.
YES, is a pathway of the Youth Equity Discovery Initiative (YEDI), a three school partnership focused on providing discovery experiences around issues of youth equity for undergraduates. The YES Program complements the URAP discovery experience through a year-long program utilizing cascading mentorship, skill-building workshops, and professional development. Students in the YES program will cultivate community and supportive relationships between scholars themselves, their graduate and faculty mentors, as well as i4Y faculty and staff, with the goal of providing supportive pathways into careers addressing adolescent inequities and well-being.
The YES program will offer 1 additional unit beyond URAP units through attendance at skill-building workshops including faculty and graduate panels, quantitative and qualitative methods training, and community/cohort building activities. The YES program will take place on FRIDAYS, from 10am-12pm, alternating weeks between workshops and independent assignments. For more information, please see: https://i4y.berkeley.edu/youth-equity-scholars-yes)
YES values equity and inclusion, and highly encourages students from different backgrounds, identities and experiences to apply.
--Undergrad researchers will learn critical concepts related to YPAR
--Undergrad researchers will gain knowledge/experience on qualitative and quantitative research methods including interview transcription, memo writing, fieldnotes, and surveys.
--Undergrad researchers will develop and facilitate youth voice workshops with SFUSD students
--Undergrad researchers will gain professional and networking experience from attending weekly lab group meetings and meetings/events in San Francisco Unified School District.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Brian Villa, Graduate Student
Qualifications: Qualifications: --Interest or experience working with youth in education settings highly preferred, but not required --Knowledge or interest in YPAR, public health, and educational equity highly preferred, but not required --Experience in youth organizing preferred, but not require --Commit at least 2 units (6-8 hours a week) is preferred --Attendance at weekly lab meeting on Mondays 9am-10am is REQUIRED
Related website: http://yparhub.berkeley.edu
(2) YPAR (Youth Participatory Action Research) Systematic Literature Review
This project is conducting systematic review of the literature to describe the state of the youth participatory action research (YPAR) literature and synthesizing findings of the youth outcomes reported in these studies. YPAR is an approach that engages young people as researchers to study and address social problems within their community. An overview and understanding of the YPAR literature is needed to inform program assessment and development, and to propose directions for future research and practice. Studies selected are being screened and coded using a process consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA).
The systematic review is currently in the phase of conducting a full-text review of eligible studies. Students will read entire articles about the YPAR projects and determine their inclusion/exclusion in the study. The next phase will involve qualitative coding of the selected articles using a standardized codebook that identifies themes and key findings in the literature. Students will learn about the YPAR field as well as critical skills for literature review. Students will also be taught about qualitative coding and data interpretation.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Amia Nash, Graduate Student
Qualifications: --Ability to read large quantities of text quickly, accurately and critically. In this context, 'critical' means discerning the strengths and the limitations of the work you are studying.-- --Ability to work effectively, both independently and as a team member, as well as attention to detail, is required.-- --Attendance (virtually) at a weekly lab meeting is required.-- --Interest in issues of youth equity and youth voice are a plus. No previous experience required.--