In addition to the its academic and mentoring components, Causeway has an evaluation component. Causeway scholars will participate in surveys and interviews to assess the program’s effectiveness and impact. Consent to participate in both the programing and evaluation components of Causeway is required for admission to the program.
The evaluation component includes two research activities: self-report online surveys and in-person, one-on-one interviews. All evaluation activities will take place at Northwestern University during the Causeway program and will be conducted by researchers in the fields of human development, psychology, and education.
Surveys will include self-report questionnaires on academic and psychosocial well-being (social support, identity, academic aspirations) as well as specific evaluations of and suggestions for the Causeway program. The survey is expected to take 20 minutes.
Interviews will be semi-structured, one-on-one conversations that focus on the student’s background, interest in mathematics or statistics, related school experiences, personality and identity, experiences in Causeway (why they chose the program, the program’s strengths and weaknesses, the aspects of the program that were most effective), and their future goals and aspirations (including how they think Causeway has supported them in pursuing these goals). Interviews will take 40-50 minutes to complete.
Causeway is a 12-month program. Research activities will take place twice during the program: once at the beginning of the program and once at the end.