K 12 to Higher Education Transitions - social-and-decision-analytics-lab/2016-summer_students GitHub Wiki

Sponsor: SDAL

Description: We will use Kentucky SLDS information to explore high school to higher education transitions, and potentially the transition to workforce. This project will involve the following steps:

1. Developing the research question(s): This will be done by reviewing the education literature, and considering the variables available in the dataset. In addition, we will consult with Kate Akers from the Kentucky Department of Education to determine if there are research questions that are important to the state.

2. Profiling and Cleaning the data: We will first profile the variables that we plan to use in order to document the quality and nature of the data. Based on what we discover in the profiling process, we will then clean the data.

3. Analyzing the data: We will conduct descriptive statistics, determine the best statistical model to use to answer our research question(s), test the assumptions of the model, and analyze the data accordingly.

Research Ideas:

• Track the outcomes of Pell Grant recipients for higher education.

• Is it true that if you have access to higher education are you better off than without higher edu? Compare those who start but don’t finish college with those without college and those with a college degree and those with an associates degree.

  • Can you compare total net worth (salary combined with student load debt) for:

    1. No college,

    2. some college – 2 year,

    3. some college – 4 year,

    4. associates degree,

    5. college degree

• How do specific HS instruction/courses serve students in higher education?