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Research

What we are testing

Five predictions about how the way a trip is run relates to how much its students change, written down before any data existed. They are reported only when there is enough evidence to test them.

The predictions

  1. Challenge

    Outcome: perspective and accomplishment

    Trips whose students rate the activities as better pitched show larger mean gains in perspective and accomplishment.

  2. Autonomy

    Outcome: agency and self-management

    Trips whose students report more real decisions show larger mean gains in agency and self-management.

  3. Group

    Outcome: social connection and belonging

    Trips whose students report groups where everyone took part show larger mean gains in social connection and belonging.

  4. Reflection

    Outcome: learning and educational value

    Trips whose students report more time to reflect show larger mean gains in learning and educational value.

  5. Preparation

    Outcome: agency and self-management

    Trips whose students felt less prepared for what was coming show smaller mean gains, or falls, in agency and self-management.

When results are reported

Each trip counts once, so the test needs many trips. Results are reported only once 30 trips across 5 operators have a complete post-trip wave. Until then, nothing is reported, in either direction.

What stays fixed

The questions and the scoring were fixed before the first trip and are the same in every region. A trip keeps the questionnaire version it started on.

The questionnaire in use is version 0.4 (pilot). It is a pilot version and has not yet been validated.