Primary Outcomes (end points)
The primary outcomes of interest for this experiment are for assessing the high-frequency impact of the orientation course and the information intervention. These results are intimately connected to what students know, what they want and what they decide about their educational and career paths and offer the comprehensive framework for understanding the impact of the program.
One outcome is how aware students are of higher education and career opportunities. This evaluates students on their knowledge of available postsecondary options including pathways to university, technical schools, and vocational options, and the career information associated with them. The shaping of such awareness is the aim of the intervention, which is especially relevant for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, as they are less likely to access information about the market conditions. An accumulation of awareness is necessary for students to be able to make educated decisions regarding their futures.
Another important outcome is perceived confidence in students’ ability to make informed educational and career decisions. This reflects shifts in their self-reported eagerness to make a choice for a pathway that fits their dreams, skills, and ambitions. Confidence in decision-making is an important soft skill that shapes students’ ability and willingness to pursue ambitious and informed choices. This intervention hopes to instill a sense of ownership regarding their own educational journeys by increasing their confidence.
Another critical outcome is motivation and ambition for postsecondary education. The program aims to inspire students to be more motivated to pursue post-secondary education and reach for higher-level education and career positions. An increase in motivation and greater ambitions is an indication that the intervention is working: Develop a forward-looking mindset and incentivise long-term investments in education.
The retention of knowledge from the orientation program is another important measure. This outcome assesses the degree to which students remember and understand the information provided, particularly regarding the benefits of pursuing higher education and the skills required in the labor market. Effective retention reflects the program’s ability to deliver impactful content that resonates with students and supports their decision-making.
In addition to these, student satisfaction with the orientation program is evaluated. This measures students’ perceptions of the program’s quality, relevance, and usefulness as captured through the initial sections of the questionnaire. Satisfaction levels provide essential feedback for refining the program and ensuring that it aligns with the needs and expectations of the students.
Finally, the study examines students’ behavioral intentions to act on the information provided during the intervention. This includes intentions to explore higher education opportunities, discuss options with their families, or seek further guidance from educators. Behavioral intention is a useful surrogate for program effects on real choices and subsequent behaviors.
We feel that these primary outcomes demonstrate the cross-cutting effect of the intervention, as well as the guiding principle at the heart of the intervention: to enable students to make informed, active choices about their futures. The study features an array of indicators as outcomes, which are the original intention of the program, and consequently informs us to what extent the program is successful in helping students move through the complex transition from secondary education to higher education and the labor market. This assessment will also inform more extensive policies regarding equity, inclusion, and the expansion of educational opportunities.