MASStheoretical framework

evaluation methodology

Kostas Kechagias

Contents

• MASS aim• Terminology• SkillZone approach• MASS• Intervention aims• Measurement methodology• To control or not to control?

MASS aim

• SkillZone: – development of Soft Skills …or– social Inclusion through development of Soft Skills

• Innovative approach, lacking of research• No similar approaches found in literature

Terminology

• Disadvantage is any life circumstance which negatively affects life quality and life chances. Disadvantageous factors include deprived neighborhoods, low income and poor health.

• The term ‘social exclusion’ is widely used to indicate more extensive disadvantage

Terminology• There are 10 domains within disadvantage, across 3 areas: • Resources

– Material/economic – Public and private services – Social capital

• Participation – Economic – Social – Culture, education and skills – Political and civic

• Quality of life – Health and well-being – Living environment – Crime and harm

Skill Zone approach

• Mainly cognitive– some introduction– cognitive experiments with reflection

• Creation of “safe environment”– foster self development (Rogers)

• Contradiction of the results with that reported in bibliography.

MASS project

• Partners address a wide variety of target groups

• Similar amount of materials will be used by all partners

• Establish the characteristics of target groups for which the approach is effective

Intervention aims

• Improvement of knowledge of socially acceptable practices.

• Improvement/clarification of students’ self image (self concept, self knowledge)

• Improvement in students’ self esteem.• Improvement in student’s social/cultural capital.• Reduction of students’ disaffection.• … Something else?

Measurement Methodology

• In the beginning and at the end– Poverty and Social Inclusion Questionnaire– Questionnaires about • Knowledge of socially • self image• self esteem • social capital• …

• A lot work!!!

Poverty Social Exclusion Dictionary• Initial Questions• Household reference person• Housing• Health• Social Networks and Support• Necessities• Finance and debts• Intra household poverty• Poverty over time• Absolute and overall poverty• Area deprivation• Local Services• Crime• Self-Completion Section• School• Perceptions of poverty• Activism

To control or not to control?

• Comparison of measurement among partners are possible, as all materials will be used

• Control groups give the possibility to neutralize all other influences

• As control group may be used some classes, in other subjects, but roughly the same composition, regarding socioeconomic factors and gender

Thank you!!!