Impact

Impact

FIRST works closely with research and academic organizations to provide tangible evidence of our impact on students’ education and career choices.

FIRST Longitudinal Study (updated:  7/17/12):

FIRST and the Center for Youth and Communities at Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management are working together to launch a multi-year longitudinal study across three of the robotics programs of FIRST:  FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition.  The goals of the study are to examine the impacts of FIRST by following approximately 300-400 new student participants in each program (1000 team members in all) over a period of up to five years and comparing changes in key outcomes to those of a comparison group of young people who are not involved in FIRST.  Key outcomes for the study include interest in STEM and STEM-related careers, college-going, pursuit of STEM-related college majors and careers, and development of 21st century personal and workplace-related skills.   The study will focus on a nationally representative sample of teams drawn from 10 states:  California, Texas, New York, Michigan, Virginia, Minnesota, Oregon, Florida, Washington, and New Jersey.  Team recruitment, sample selection and data collection will begin in July, 2012.

If you have any questions about this effort, or would like more information, please contact Nancy Boyer, FIRST Evaluations Manager at 603-666-3906, x 470 or nboyer@usfirst.org.

The following represents the most recent research conducted on FIRST programs. For full reports or more information on the studies listed below, please contact Nancy Boyer, Evaluations Manager.

Research conducted by Brandeis University’s Center for Youth and Communities:

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)


FIRST LEGO League (FLL)

Junior FIRST LEGO League (FLL)