Re: New First Class Proposal?????
Mark Wilson (mwilson@POLARIS.ORL.MMC.COM)
Thu, 30 Mar 1995 10:13:49 EST
> From: Bob Condon <rec@epoch.com>
> I beleive that the "one year program" is a misconstued
> concept of data.
>
> My understanding is that many years ago, they analyzed that {a large number of
}
> Eagles made it to FIRST CLASS in their FIRST year.
>
> Hence, if we put a program in place to DRIVE the boys to first class in their
> first year, then more boys will make it to Eagle.
>
> This causal relationship feels broken.
The relationship, as I recall (perhaps Mike Walton can correct me) was between
time to First Class and tenure. The quicker a boy got to First Class, the longer
he tended to stay in the program.
Correlation does not prove causality. Sure there is a
relationship between the two. Problem is that one does not imply the other.
The next question is what does cause a boy to get First Class quickly and
keep him in the program longer. I don't think there is only one thing. It is
likely a complex interaction of the many components of the program.
Will National ever find out what it is? Not likely, given the methods they
use to identify and test new ideas. The paradigm they use is to come up
with some concept (usually from some "expert"), identify the best units in
the best districts in the best councils, test the program idea there and
proclaim success when they make it work. Whats wrong with that picture? Any
first year psych major can tell you about the Hawthorne effect. This paradigm
fosters that form of confounding. Next, where is the control? What happened
to the idea of random sampling? What about repeatability. We won't even
discuss statistical analysis.
Is there a better way? I think so. Start by asking those in the field what
they have seen and what they think. Not just the priviledged few who might
be recommended by the Scout Executives. Randomly select them from the rolls
of the SMs and ASMs (leaders on the front line with regular contact with the
boys and who have to make their unit operate on a weekly basis). Then design
a study to test individual ideas (not entire programs based on them) in a
wide variety of units. Based on those results, develop changes to the program.
Introduce the "new" program in several councils representing a cross-section
of the whole, not just the 'Quality Councils.' Tune it. Then institute it
nationwide.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Wilson mwilson@polaris.orl.mmc.com
Eagle Class of '74 863 Trumbull Street
SM, Troop 565 Deltona, FL, 32725
I used to be an antelope ....
----------------------------------------------------------------------
My opinions are my opinions. Lockheed Martin can speak for itself.
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
