Developmental Assets: A Synthesis of the Scientific Research on Adolescent Development

by Nancy Leffert, Peter C. Scales, Peter C. Scales PhD

This volume examines more than 800 scientific articles and reports on adolescent development that tie to each of the 40 developmental assets identified by Search Institute. An invaluable reference for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1574823388
• ISBN13: 9781574823387
• Release Date: December 2004
• Publisher: Search Institute
• Length: 279 Pages
• Weight: 12.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Get Answers to Your Questions about the Developmental Assets!

As a middle school principal who believes in educating the whole child, I immediately loved the Developmental Assets Framework when our district started using it a year ago. During our first year of implementation, we spent a great deal of time educating parents, teachers, and students about the Framework and attempting to tie our current practices to its language. In preparing for next year, I wanted to have a much better understanding of the research behind the Developmental Assets, so I could go beyond simply knowing that they are research-based. This book was exactly what I needed! It is comprehensive, easy to read, and addresses many of the questions people have raised about its validity. The authors clearly state that although the Framework is comprehensive, it is by no means all that youth need. The descriptions of the research behind each asset category outline variations in the findings as well as areas that do not have as strong a research base. The authors don't claim that the Framework is perfect, and they believe that it shouldn't be immune to testing, criticism, and revision. I feel confident after reading this book that the Developmental Assets Framework is a solid tool for anyone working with youth.

If only everyone could have the assets

I read this book as a class requirement and I loved it. True, there may be some gaps in the research, but the point is clear: We must have a mindset that youth are valuable and worth investing time in and these 40 assets provide you with a framework and a mindset that will help you help youth around you. These may not be the absolute 40 things that work (they never claim to be) but they sure are things every child/youth can benefit from: caring adults, postive peer influence, achievement motivation, etc. I highly recommend this for any parent, teacher, or anyone that works with youth on a regular basis.

This is a must read for teachers an administrators!

So many people think they know what's wrong with young people today, but Developmental Assets by Scales and Leffert creates the real picture of our kids--a few are giving the whole generation a bad name. These experienced authors do this in an amazing way--meticulous reading of 1200 studies about adolescents and culling out the best 800 to tell us what is settled research and knowledge about how to encourage kids to grow up healthy and responsible in today's society.mroper

Every parent, educator and politician should read this book!

Our community is using the SEARCH Institute's program to focus on our youth and devise strategies for raising healthy kids! I read this book in order to understand the "40 developmental assets" better. Since it was a text, I assumed that it would put me to sleep. Was I wrong! The research and conclusions put forth are facsinating! The writing is interesting and informative, as well as not too academic. The findings lead me to believe that many of the nation's communities need help with raising and educating adolescents--and this book provides us with much needed information on how to do a better job.Excellent. I'm going to recommend it to everyone involved in teaching/being with children and adolescents--from my church youth leader to the owner of the pizza parlor.

This book is da bomb!

Dr. Leffert has brought forth an era of intellectual scholarship that is unparalleled. I wish I could have grown up with Dr. Leffert as a parent.