Natural experiments and the educational context: The environment and effects of an alternative inner‐city public school on adolescents

Abstract

The 1-year impact of attending a public alternative high school on two cohorts of adolescents who gained entrance to the school through a lottery was studied. Adolescents who had applied to the school but were not selected in the lottery served as a control group. The nature of the alternative high school environment is described, and the outcome of this natural experiment defined in terms of reactions to school, attitude change, and student achievement. In general, the alternative school positively affected student satisfaction with a variety of aspects of school life and induced some positive change in interracial attitudes while not harming student achievement. Race effects were found in the areas of achievement and interracial attitudes. Implications for the study of natural experiments in general and the specific data in particular are drawn.

Translating ecology: Similarities and differences in the ecological images of Bronfenbrenner and Kelly.

“…Kelly’s ecological vision evolved over time (e.g., Kelly, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1988, 2006; Trickett et al, 1985) and reflected the spirit of Lindemann and Caplan. First, the spirit of ecological inquiry (Kelly, 1988; Trickett et al, 1985) centers on the community, however defined, as the level of analysis and intervention. Getting to know the community and differing subgroups, norms, political and community power brokers, and histories is essential.…”