Internships & Graduation Readiness
Designing a quantitative study to measure the impact of real-world experience on graduating seniors' confidence in entering the workforce.
Project
Quantitative Research Study Design (University Coursework.)
My Role
Literature Review, Hypothesis Formulation, Method Design, Data Analysis Planning.
Challenge
Design a study to quantify the link between internships and a student's "readiness" for a career.
Key Skills
Quantitative Method Design, Survey Methodology, Statistical Analysis Planning.
The Premise
Millions of students graduate college each year, but many approach this milestone with anxiety. They often feel unprepared to enter the workforce and begin "adulting." My goal was to move beyond anecdotal evidence and design a study to quantitatively measure if out-of-the-classroom career experiences, like internships, correlate with a higher sense of "graduation readiness."
Hypothesis
Students who have participated in co-ops, internships, or other hands-on, project-based experiences will report a significantly higher level of readiness to graduate and enter the workforce than those who have not.
Research Plan
To ensure valid and reliable findings, I designed a structured, multi-part quantitative study. The focus was on creating a clear methodology, using a validated measurement scale, and planning for statistical analysis.
Participants
The study was designed for 200 graduating seniors from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. They would be split into two distinct groups: Group A (with internship/co-op experience) and Group B (no experience outside of curriculum).
Measures
The core of the study is the validated Work Readiness Scale (WRS). This 37-item scale uses a 5-point Likert system to assess social, practical, cognitive, self-directed, and emotional readiness for the workplace.
Procedure
Participants would receive an email linking to a questionnaire. The study was framed as a general campus experience survey to reduce bias. It included demographic questions, the WRS, and conditional qualitative follow-up questions for each group.
Data Analysis
To test the hypothesis, I planned to use an independent t-test. This statistical test would evaluate if there is a significant difference between the mean Work Readiness Scale scores of Group A and Group B.
Potential Impact
If conducted, this study would provide university career services with quantitative, data-driven evidence to advocate for the expansion of internship programs. The findings could be used to secure more funding, create stronger industry partnerships, and ultimately better prepare students for the workforce.