Teen Voice 2009: the Untapped Strength of 15-Year-Olds

Over the past couple of years the Search Institute researchers, funded by Best Buy, have been taking an in-depth look at what motivates teens. As a result of this work, the Search institute has developed a new concept they call "Sparks," - the interests that inspire and motivate teens to succeed. It turns out that 2/3 of teenagers can identify their "spark," but far fewer report that they have the support from adults to nurture their interests. This report is based on a Harris poll of over 1,800 15-year-olds about these issues. The authors look at "sparks," and develop two new concepts: the "Teen Voice Index" (teen engagement in civic and social issues) and the "Relationships and Opportunities Index" (being valued and
treated fairly; having access to and being involved in high-quality opportunities,
such as after-school programs; and having people who help nurture their sparks such as mentors and coaches).

The report includes some information about the survey instrument they developed, which may be of interest to many of you. More information about the instrument, including sample questions, is found in the Search Institute's recent publication Sparks: How Parents Can Help Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers, by Peter Bensson

Teen Voice 2009: the Untapped Strength of 15-Year-Olds
http://www.at15.com/sites/all/themes/bb_at15_new/assets/_pdf/TeenVoiceRe...