Glossary

Here is a quick-reference guide to terms used in the Tool Kit and youth surveys:

1. Activities Participation – The number and types of Club activities in which youth participate and the frequency of their participation in these activities.
   
   
2. Baseline – The data collection starting point; the scores achieved by the first group of survey takers. This initial measurement can be used as a basis for comparison with data collected in the future.
   
   
3. Caring and Social Behavior – On the youth surveys, questions in this category measure the extent to which youth show care and concern for themselves and others (sometimes called pro-social behavior) and have friends. In the elementary school survey, these questions also ask about youth interest in having friends with people of different racial or ethnic heritages. In the elementary survey, this category is called “Friendships and Relationships.” In the middle and high school surveys, this category is called “Friendships.”
   
   
4. Club Benefits – On the youth surveys, questions in this category measure the extent to which young people believe the Club has helped them learn skills, information, values and behaviors that are important to their health and well-being.
   
   
5. Club Connections – On the youth surveys, questions in this category measure the extent to which young people have positive connections with adults and peers and feel a sense of belonging, usefulness, influence and competence at the Club (our Youth Development Strategy).
   
   
6. Consent – Parent/guardian approval of youth answering the Tool Kit’s surveys. Parents or guardians give their consent by signing a letter indicating that they understand the survey goals and purposes and agree to have their youth take the surveys. Clubs can obtain one of two types of consent from parents/guardians. Active consent involves obtaining a signed statement from parents/guardians agreeing that their children may participate in the surveys. Passive consent involves asking parents/guardians to return a signed letter only if they do not want their youth to participate in the surveys.
   
   
7. Deepening Impact – Refers to increasing membership, attendance and use of Club programs. On the youth surveys, questions in this category measure the effect of Clubs on youth in three areas: 1) Activities Participation, 2) Club Connections and 3) Club Benefits. This is one of two key youth development outcome goals (Strengthening Youth Character is the other) of the 2002-2006 Strategic Plan that BGCA has established for the entire Boys & Girls Club Movement.
   
   
8. Educational Commitment – On the youth surveys, questions in this category measure young people’s engagement in school and their attitudes about participating and doing well in school.
   
   
9. Employment Competence – On the high-school youth survey, questions in this category measure young people’s plans for and actions they take to prepare for work and post-secondary education. In the survey, this category is called “Preparing for a Job.” The questions in this category relate to activities used typically with high-school youth, so the category is not included in the elementary- and middle-school surveys.
   
   
10. Leadership – On the youth surveys, questions in this category measure youth involvement as Club and community contributors and leaders.
    
    
11. Moral Compass – On the youth surveys, questions in this category measure young people’s judgments about right and wrong behavior, the extent to which they care about how their actions affect others and their commitment to acting on these beliefs. In the surveys, this category is called “My Actions with Others.”
    
    
12. Outcome Indicator Score – In the Tool Kit survey scoring system, this is a score that summarizes the results for clusters of seven to 12 survey questions that each measure a valued Boys & Girls Club outcome for youth.
    
    
13. Risk Avoidance – On the youth surveys, questions in this category measure the extent to which young people avoid participating in risky or dangerous behaviors, e.g., drug and alcohol abuse. In the surveys, this category is called “Things I Do.”
    
    
14. Sampling – A sample is a set of elements drawn from and analyzed to estimate the characteristics of a population. For Clubs’ survey administration purposes, this means a portion of Club membership that is of adequate size and representative of the whole.
    
    
15. Strengthening Youth Character – Club experiences and affiliation are expected to strengthen youth character, as evidenced by caring, responsible and productive behavior. This is one of two key youth development outcome goals (Deepening Impact is the other) of the 2002-2006 Strategic Plan that BGCA has established for the entire Boys & Girls Club Movement.
    
    
16. Technological Skills – On the youth surveys, questions in this category measure young people’s involvement with technology programs at the Club and their proficiency level with technology. In the surveys, this category is called “Technology Skills.”
    
    
17. The 75/25 Percent Rule – A reasonable goal for Clubs to achieve on the Tool Kit surveys is for 75 percent of youth to respond in the “Doing Great” or “Doing Fine” categories on as many outcome indicators as possible. If more than 25 percent of youth surveyed have “Room to Grow” in one or more indicators, Club staff should consider ways to provide additional support to improve these outcomes.
    
    
18. Tolerance for Others – On the youth surveys, questions in this category measure young people’s interest in connecting with people who have a different racial or ethnic heritage from their own. In the middle and high school surveys, this category is called “Relationships.” While the elementary school survey does not have a separate set of questions about tolerance, its Caring and Social Behavior section does include questions about youth interest in having friends with people of different racial or ethnic heritages.