A multi-method approach to research on youth employment programs: A case study of the youth conservation corps

Abstract

This paper examines the issue of \%that kinds of work programs are most desirable for !.outh. It has three parts. In the first part, 1t.e present some findings from our stud!of fi\.e I7outh Conser\.ation Corps programs (Hamilton k Stelvart, 1978). These findings w.er-e based primarih~ upon intervielvs and observations. The second part presents’iindings based on similar data from some other studies and identifies those program characteristics that are I\-idel)seen as desirable. In the third part. we attempt to relate these findings. based on OUI ON’II and other investigators’ qua1itatiL.e data. to some of the quantitari\.e data collected in our stud!. In doing so. we hope to demonstrate both the importance md the challenges of this kind of effort. The term “project” i\41 be used tit designate a particular r\-OI-k acri\it!z. such as maintenance of’s park, in \\,hich a group of ~ourig people are engaged. “Program” will refer to the adminisrrati e entitk, that is responsible for planning and superiising one or more projects in a particular communit\-. .A given program. therefore, might operate one or many ditfer-