Research Goals

1
Family Learning Connection (FLC) Cape Care
Evaluation Study
Research Team. From Purdues Dept. of
Communication Professor Steve Wilson Doctoral
Students Suzy DEnbeau Elizabeth Munz. From
Lafayette Community Family Resource Center
Community Initiatives Coordinator Trish Brutus
Early Child Education (ECE) Group Time 1 (within
3 weeks of program enrollment) Questionnaires,
videotaped observation, home visit Time 2 (3-4
months after program entry) Questionnaires,
interviews, home visit Time 3 (1 year after
program entry) Questionnaires, videotaped
observation, home visit Comparison Group Time 1
Questionnaires, videotaped observation Time 2
Questionnaires, videotaped observation

• Measures. This multi-method study will assess a
  variety of parenting competencies/behaviors and
  child outcomes
• Parents feelings of efficacy about parenting
  (SEPTI, Coleman, P. K., Karraker, K. H., 2003)
• Parents use of harsh verbal/physical discipline
  (VA Scale, Infante, 1986 CAPI, Milner, 1994)
• Parents perceptions of social support (MSPSS,
  Zimet, G.D., 1988)
• Parent/Staff perceptions of infant/toddler
  competencies and problem-behaviors (BITSEA,
  Briggs-Gowan, M. Carter, A., 2004)
• Maternal responsiveness, intrusiveness
  (15-minute video-taped observation of
  unstructured mother-child play)
• Home environment responsivity, acceptance,
  organization, learning materials, involvement,
  variety (Infant-Toddler HOME Assessment,
  Caldwell, B.M. Bradley, R.H., 1984)
• Parent/Staff perceptions of program strengths
  and weaknesses (gathered through in-depth
  interviews)

• Research Goals
• To understand who is participating actively in
  the ECE parenting programs (e.g., age,
  race/ethnicity, education/employment status).
• To understand what parents and staff believe are
  program strengths and barriers to successful
  program implementation.
• To assess the short- and long-term impact of ECE
  and parenting program involvement on childrens
  development and school readiness parents
  feelings of efficacy in supporting their
  childrens education.
• To help tell the Family Learning Connection (FLC)
  at Washington story to the community and to
  potential sources of future funding.

• Product Outcomes
• Reports/summaries for Lilly Endowment
• Presentations to Our Kids Are Community Board and
  other community stakeholders
• Papers/presentations at national communication
  and early childhood education conferences
• Reports for PLACE program (Purdue Liberal Arts
  Community Engagement)

Here are the space and toys for the videotaped
interaction.

• Research Participants/Groups. An ECE group and
• comparison group will participate.
• The ECE group families whose children are in
  the ECE program and their parents who are taking
  parenting classes and pursuing educational goals.
• The comparison group families from the Early
  Head Start waiting list. Participants will be
  matched to ECE families on age, primary language,
  education, and income. Parents in comparison
  families may be using other Washington services.
• Comparing these two groups will provide
  information not only about whether families whose
  children are in the ECE program are being
  influenced positively but also whether any
  changes over time are unique to ECE program
  involvement or also seen in families with some
  but less involvement at FLC-Cape Care.

Comm 491B Community Evaluation Research. Course
taught by Prof. Steve Wilson and funded in part
by Purdue Liberal Arts Community Engagement
(PLACE). Students will focus on the unique and
shared experiences of Spanish-speaking and
English-speaking families (e.g.,
immigration/migration issues).
Prof. Steve Wilson leads Com 491B discussion .
Purdue Summer Research Opportunity Program
(SROP). Prof. Steve Wilson received a grant from
the Purdue Summer Research Opportunity Program
(SROP) that invites talented undergraduate
students from social and economic backgrounds
that are underrepresented in research careers.
Evette Allen, a senior at Arkansas State
University, assisted the research team with the
home observations during June and July 2007.