Community-based positive youth development program in Hong Kong: views of the program implementers

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek ◽  
Catalina S.M. Ng ◽  
Moon Y.M. Law

Abstract Based on the data collected from the Tier 1 Program of a community-based positive youth development program (Project P.A.T.H.S.) in 2013, the current study explored the perspectives of 634 program implementers who implemented the Tier 1 Program in Hong Kong. Upon the completion of the program, the program implementers responded to a validated client satisfaction scale (Form B). The results showed that the program implementers perceived the program, implementers and benefits of the program in a positive manner. However, there were no differences among perceived program content, implementers and effectiveness across the three grades. Consistent with previous studies, perceived program predicted effectiveness of the program. Nevertheless, program implementers did not predict program effectiveness. Once again, the present findings indicated that the Tier 1 Program was well received by the program implementers.

Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek ◽  
Cecilia M.S. Ma ◽  
Xiaoqin Zhu

AbstractUsing a subjective outcome evaluation method, the current study investigated program implementers’ perceptions of the Tier 1 Program of the community-based P.A.T.H.S. Project in Hong Kong. After completion of the program, 599 program implementers completed a valid and reliable scale (i.e. Form B) to give their ratings on program content, their own performance, and perceived program effectiveness. As expected, most program implementers perceived the program in a favorable way by giving very positive ratings on the three aspects measured in Form B. Grade differences on the ratings were observed, with implementers teaching the senior curriculum held more positive views on program effectiveness than did those teaching the junior curriculum. Similar to previous findings, perceived program content and perceived worker performance predicted program effectiveness. Findings of the present study provide further evidence for the success of the Tier 1 Program of the community-based P.A.T.H.S. Project in Hong Kong.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek ◽  
Cecilia M.S. Ma ◽  
Qiuzhi Xie

Abstract This study investigated students’ evaluations of a positive youth development program entitled Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social program) in Hong Kong. The participants were 19,790 Secondary 1, 2 and 3 students who joined this program at the extension phase of the project. They were required to complete a subjective outcome evaluation form to indicate their perceptions of the program content, instructors, and effectiveness. Results showed that the students evaluated this program positively. Amongst the students in the three grades, Secondary 1 students evaluated the program most favorably whereas Secondary 3 students had the relatively least favorable evaluation. In addition, the program content and instructors accounted for approximately 35% of the variance in program effectiveness. The findings generally imply the successful implementation of this program in the community-based phase.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 808-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia M. S. Ma ◽  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Hildie Leung

Objectives:In this study, we used the one-group pretest–posttest design to examine changes in students after joining a positive youth development program (Project PATHS) in Hong Kong, with 9,226 successfully matched junior high school students joining the Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 program(s).Method:Program participants completed the validated outcome measures on positive youth development, life satisfaction, and thriving before and after joining the program(s).Results:Students showed positive changes after joining the Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 program(s). The present findings replicated and converged with the findings of the previous two studies.Conclusion:The present study illustrates the role of positive youth development programs in promoting adolescent development and highlights the importance of replication in intervention research in positive youth development programs in youth services. The contributions and limitations of this series of studies are discussed.


Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek ◽  
Janet T.Y. Leung ◽  
Moon Y.M. Law ◽  
Kies S.Y. Chan

AbstractThis study examined participants’ perceptions of a community-based positive youth development (PYD) program (the Project P.A.T.H.S.) based on the responses of 16,420 junior secondary students who joined the program in 2015. Subjective outcome evaluation approach was adopted to examine the students’ views of program content, program instructors, and program effectiveness. Consistent with previous studies, results showed that students generally perceived the program positively, and positive relationships were found amongst the three domains of evaluation. Multiple regression analyses showed that perceived program content and instructor qualities were significant predictors and could explain 35% of the variance in program effectiveness perceived by the participants. The present findings are basically consistent with previous subjective outcome evaluation findings derived from the school-based and community-based programs of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew L. Luk ◽  
K. M. Leong ◽  
Annah M. L. Au

A well-tested comprehensive Chinese positive youth development program (Project P.A.T.H.S.) developed in Hong Kong has been modified and adapted for use in Macau. This program aims to help adolescent school children develop positively and to be better prepared for their future. The present study investigated the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of “P.A.T.H.S.” for Secondary 2 students of two pilot schools. Since there were “repeating” and “transferring” students joining the program, the effectiveness of the program on these particular groups of participants was also examined. The subjective outcome evaluations including participants' perceptions of the program, program instructors, benefits from the program, and overall satisfaction were positive. Although the longitudinal data from the objective outcome evaluation did not show any notable improvement, the overall effect of the program was found to be positive to the new comers in the junior secondary years. The existing evaluation findings suggest that the Secondary 2 program is especially effective to those newly joining the program. In view of the paucity of youth studies in Macau, the present study can contribute to evidence-based youth work and provide baseline data for the program to be evaluated in the Secondary 3 periods in the future.


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