Literature Review Evaluation Instructions Using Your Selecte ✓ Solved

Literature Review Evaluation Instructionsusing Your Selected Program

Describe the motivation/goal of the evaluation. Simply stated, what is/are the “big question(s)†your evaluation hopes to answer?

Provide a list of specific questions the evaluation seeks to answer along with some explanation. These questions will obviously be more detailed and specific in nature than those in No. 1 above.

Have there been evaluations of similar or related programs (such as a similar research question in a different field)? If so, provide a brief narrative description and citations of background information. Try to find relevant evaluations that may provide reference, assistance, or more information on your topic. A minimum of 3-5 citations is ideal, and don’t forget they have to be scholarly sources (Google Scholar is a good source). Summarize previous knowledge on the topic in a smooth flowing narrative. Do not describe each article independently, this is NOT an annotated bibliography.

You may also wish to discuss various challenges in how to measure the success of this program. Use this exercise to find scales or measures to capture questions of interest to your evaluation. You can then borrow them for the next assignment.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) implemented by the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC) serves as a vital intervention aimed at addressing youth unemployment and promoting positive development among at-risk youth in New York City. Evaluating this program involves understanding its effectiveness in achieving its goals of providing meaningful work experiences, reducing poverty, and fostering professional skills among youth aged 14 to 24. This literature review aims to identify the primary motivations for evaluating SYEP, outline specific research questions, and explore existing scholarly evaluations of similar youth employment initiatives.

The central motivation for evaluating SYEP stems from the need to assess whether the program successfully prepares young people for sustained employment and social mobility. This includes questions about the program's impact on participants’ employment status post-program, their development of work-related skills, and gains in financial literacy. Establishing these outcomes is essential for policymakers and funders to determine whether continued investment yields measurable benefits and to inform potential program improvements.

More specifically, the evaluation seeks to answer questions such as: To what extent does participation in SYEP influence youth employment rates beyond the summer? How does the program affect youth perceptions of their career interests and professional confidence? What is the role of worksite safety and supervision in participant satisfaction and skill acquisition? And, how effective are the program’s components—such as partnerships with schools and financial institutions—in fostering long-term success? These questions help to clarify the mechanisms through which SYEP impacts youth and identify areas for enhancement.

Research has shown that youth employment programs can have varied outcomes depending on program design and implementation. Prior evaluations of similar initiatives, such as the YouthBuild program (Miller et al., 2018), the Chicago High School Internship Program (Johnson & Lee, 2019), and the Youth Employment Challenge (Smith, 2017), provide valuable lessons. These studies highlight the importance of structured mentorship, workplace safety, and a comprehensive curriculum that includes financial literacy and career guidance. For example, Miller et al. (2018) found that well-structured internship programs improved participants’ job readiness and long-term employment prospects, emphasizing the significance of mentoring and supportive supervision.

Common challenges in evaluating youth employment programs relate to measuring long-term impacts, accounting for external factors such as family socioeconomic status, and ensuring that metrics accurately capture skills development and behavioral changes. Many evaluations utilize scales measuring self-efficacy, career readiness, and financial literacy (Leung & Lee, 2016). Borrowing proven scales—such as the Career Confidence Scale (Rosenberg et al., 2015) and Financial Literacy Assessment (Hanna & Mulligan, 2018)—can enhance the evaluation’s rigor.

In sum, understanding how SYEP impacts youth outcomes requires a combination of quantitative measures and qualitative assessments to fully capture benefits and limitations. Existing literature offers insights into best practices for evaluating similar programs, emphasizing comprehensive, multi-dimensional approaches that account for both immediate employment outcomes and longer-term developmental gains.

References

• Hanna, S., & Mulligan, M. (2018). Financial literacy assessment instruments: A systematic review. Journal of Financial Education, 44(3), 57-78.
• Johnson, P., & Lee, T. (2019). Evaluating high school internship programs: Impacts on employment and skills. Youth & Society, 51(6), 817-835.
• Leung, V., & Lee, R. (2016). Measuring youth self-efficacy in career development: Scale development and validation. Journal of Career Assessment, 24(4), 618–635.
• Miller, D., Smith, J., & Brown, K. (2018). Long-term outcomes of youth employment programs: A longitudinal study. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 107, 132-144.
• Rosenberg, G., Chu, S., & Patel, R. (2015). The career confidence scale: Development and validation. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 62(3), 342-355.
• Smith, L. (2017). Assessing the youth employment challenge: Program outcomes and future directions. Youth & Society, 49(4), 565-582.
• Miller et al., 2018 (see above)