IRB Exemption Procedure

IRB Procedures

Prior to conducting this study approval was obtained from the Western Kentucky University Institutional Review Board. Each researcher completed the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Training Program as required and completed an IRB Student Code of Conduct Form. The survey instrument, IRB Exemption Proposal Form, and agency approval forms were submitted to the Western Kentucky IRB for approval.

Evaluation Design For the purpose of this descriptive study, a pre-experimental design was utilized. A limitation of the pre-experimental design is that it fails to include a control group. A single group was studied but no comparison between an equivalent non-treatment group was made.

Sampling Procedures Purposeful non-probability sampling was used in this research study. The study was post-test only with no random assignment. The ExCEL program’s electronic database files were used to

For the purpose of this study, graduation rate will refer to the number of participants who participated in the ExCEL Program and received either their high school Diploma or GED, while dropout rate will refer to the number of ExCEL participants who did not complete the education requirements needed in order to obtain their diploma or GED. Next, participation in higher education will mean the participants continued their education post-graduation whether in college or trade school, while employment post-graduation will refer to the rate of participants who obtained employment after graduation. Furthermore, the study will research whether the ExCEL Program (cause) influenced the proportion of teen mothers who would pursue employment and higher education post-graduation (effect). No outside variables were introduced to the participants. Also, variables will not be manipulated and there will be no treatment