Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Lori Demeter

Abstract

The research problem in this study addressed the lack of evaluation criteria used to assess the LIFE curriculum's alignment with the A-H guidelines of the federally funded Title V abstinence education program. These A-H guidelines have existed for almost two decades but no evaluation has been done that measured the degree of alignment between a specific curriculum and the federal A-H guidelines. Using Lewis' theory of the culture of poverty as the foundation, the purpose of this qualitative study that used a constant comparison analysis was to evaluate the level of alignment of the LIFE curriculum with each of the eight guidelines (A-H) of the Federal Title V abstinence education program. The research question that this study sought to address was: Is there is an alignment between the LIFE abstinence education curriculum and the Title V abstinence education Federal Guidelines A-H. The data was collected from the 8 lessons within the LIFE curriculum documents, were then coded using a deductive reasoning strategy. The data was then subjected to content analysis using a qualitative software program, which was Atlas.ti. Learning outcomes from each of the eight LIFE curriculum lessons were listed in a six-column table that showed the alignment of the desired outcome with the evaluation criteria of the A-H guidelines. Overall, the LIFE curriculum was found to be 71% in alignment with the A-H guidelines. This study has policy implications such that it may provide insight to policymakers, parents, and communities regarding the need for further alignment between federal guidelines and abstinence education curriculum. Attention to alignment issues may impact positive social change by assisting in the reduction of pregnancy rates among those ages 10-19 years old.

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