Understanding Data
Articles
What have we learned through the Programmatic Learning Agenda (PLA) work?
This article presents a summary of main findings from FY18 and FY19 cycles of the Programmatic Learning Agenda (PLA). Below you will also find the links to the extended reports. FY18 Programmatic Learning Agenda (Pilot Year) FY19 Programm...
The what, how, and why behind iMentor's engagement benchmarks
Research has found that relationships characterized by more frequent contact were associated with more positive youth outcomes. Weekly online communication and monthly in-person meetings at iMentor events are a critical component of developin...
Strong Personal Relationships
Research suggests that effective mentoring relationships depend on the strength of the interpersonal bonds pairs develop; a strong emotional connection has been found to be a crucial precursor to achieving program objectives. Tools to measure the s...
Mentee College Aspiration
A critical precursor to a student being able to graduate high school prepared for college success is to have a well-developed college aspiration. It is not enough, however, for students to simply aspire to go to college. Students must believe that ...
Non-Cognitive Skills
Research consistently indicates that the development of non-cognitive skills is a leading indicator of success both academically and in the labor market. In addition, employers consistently report that possessing non-cognitive skills is among the mo...
Long Term Outcomes
College graduation is the ultimate indicator of success of the iMentor program. In order to achieve the goal of college graduation, mentees must first graduate high school and persist in college. In order to measure progress toward long term outco...
How is the In-Person Benchmark Calculated?
Since the 2013-14 program year, the Research and Evaluation team has explored the relationship between engagement targets and the strength of pair relationships. Every year, the data shows that pairs meeting these benchmarks have significantly stro...
Developing, Measuring, and Analyzing Non-Cognitive Skills
Non-cognitive skills are a fundamental aspect of any student’s ability to succeed in high school and in navigating the college access landscape. Non-cognitive skills are equally important in the post-high school world, playing an important role in c...
iMentor Core Metrics Benchmarks
This article outlines iMentor's Core Metrics measures, metrics and benchmarks for our program execution elements, short-term outcomes and long-term outcomes. For a Microsoft Excel version of this table, click here .
Click on the link below to...
Changes in KSM Definitions for 2018-19
As iMentor updated our programmatic outputs and outcomes, it was important to ensure that the operational definitions of these concepts were updated to reflect current research. Below is a side-by-side comparison of operational definitons of our ski...
Understanding Non-Cognitive Skill Measurement
How non-cognitive skills are measured
iMentor measures non-cognitive skills using methods commonly used in the social sciences. To measure non-cognitive skills, researchers develop a series of questions called a scale , collected from study pa...