Survey Results

Program Evaluation Back to Character Education

In 1997, South Dakota State University created an evaluation tool to measure the impact of the CHARACTER COUNTS! program on student attitudes and behavior. Base line data (in pdf) was collected in 1998 as a sort of pre-test of middle and high school youth. Follow up surveys indicate changes in both attitude and behavior after only one year of exposure.The project has been funded through the South Dakota State 4-H Foundation, and developed be scientists in the SDSU Rural Sociology Department.

Student self-report the answers to the surveys, and remain anonymous to encourage honesty in answering. The changes over the years give valuable information about which attitudes and behaviors may need more concentration, and where teachers, parents, and other educators may want to focus. Over the past four years we have been able to describe trends that are consistent with the six pillars of character.

Separate surveys are also conducted with elementary students and teachers who use CHARACTER COUNTS! The information gleaned is useful in designing new resources and giving staff and funders a future direction.

The current Evaluation summary (in pdf) includes comparisons between years one, through five, as well as a short overview of the evaluation process. The entire evaluation of students, teachers and elementary pilot sites is available by contacting SDSU's CHARACTER COUNTS! office.

Executive Summary 2004-2005