Excellence in Education
RESEARCH
About
Ad Astra Research
At Ad Astra Research Institute, we are dedicated to maximizing college and career success for PreK-12th grade students by investigating the process of transition. Our team of experts conducts research and develops programs that equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed academically and professionally beyond high school.
Ad Astra
IRB
Ad Astra IRB
Ad Astra Research Institute IRB is a committee established to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research studies. It reviews research proposals to ensure they adhere to ethical principles and regulatory requirements, primarily focusing on minimizing risks to participants and maximizing the potential benefits of the research.
Submit Your
Proposal
Submit Your Proposal
To submit a proposal to the Ad Astra Institutional Review Board (IRB), you'll need to prepare your research protocol and any relevant materials, then submit them through our online form in a PDF file format. You should also ensure you have completed any required human subjects research training.
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Before submitting your form, please contact Dr. Patricia Hughes, the IRB Chair, at phughes@adastrari.org, for information and guidance regarding the submission process.
Research Council
Our team of experts includes some of the most talented and dedicated professionals in the field of education research. Each member of our team brings a unique set of skills and experiences to the table, and we all share a common goal: to help students succeed.
University of Pittsburgh, PA
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania - Bloomsburg Campus, PA
Franklin Pierce University, NH & Graduate Student Research Scholarship Program Chair
Mississippi State University, MS
University of Central Florida, FL
Lindenwood University, MO
Harvey Nonprofit Consulting Group, IN
Research Projects
IN PROGRESS
Home to School Transition Study
Status: In Progress
Focus: Home to School Transition Study
Site: U.S. Midwest
Principal Investigators: Radhi Al-Mabuk, Ph.D., Patricia Hughes, Ed.D, Cengiz Karatas
Partners: TBA
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Description: Our research team is interested in transitions made by students, i.e. those made from home to school, those made during the K-12 educational years, and those made after graduation. We believe that students who make transitions successfully are those who also succeed in schooling as a whole and post-graduation as well.
JUNE 2021 - JUNE 2022
A one-year project revealing the best practices of the pilot school's kindergarten classes
Status: Data collected in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022
Focus: A one-year project revealing the best practices of the pilot school`s kindergarten classes.
Site: Horizon Science Academy Columbus Primary
Principal Investigators: Radhi Al-Mabuk, Ph.D., Patricia Hughes, Ed.D, Cengiz Karatas
Partners: Horizon Science Academy Columbus Primary
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Description: The purpose of this research is to reveal the best practices of the pilot school`s kindergarten classes.
MARCH 2019/20/21/22 - JUNE 2019/20/21/22
High School Seniors’ Educational & Career Plans and Their Self-Assessed Preparation
Status: Data Collected Each Spring
Focus: 12th graders’ plans and perceived preparation for the transition from high school to college or to work
Site: U.S. Midwest
Principal Investigators: John Klatt, Ph.D. & Roberta Gentry, Ph.D.
Partners: 12 Public High Schools in the Mid-west.
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Description: This data collection examined students’ educational and career plans for after high school graduation as well as their perceived preparation for the transition. Data were used to examine overall trends and to identify areas for program development within the high schools the students attend.
FEB 2020 - FEB 2021
School Counselors’ Conceptions of Transition
Status: Finalized
Focus: School Counselors' conceptions of transition from high school to college or to work
Site: U.S. Midwest
Principal Investigators: Radhi H. Al-Mabuk & Cengiz Karatas
Partners: 9 Midwest Public High Schools
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Description: This study examined school counselors’ conceptions of transition from high school to college or to work. The general focus of this investigation was threefold: to find out what school counselors do, how they do it and why. More specifically, the study aimed at finding out school counselors’ perceptions and definitions of transition from high school to either college or to the world of work. The study was based on the premise that the way school counselors perceive, think about, and define the process of transition from high school shape how they prepare students for the transition.
MARCH 2021 - JUNE 2021
Program Evaluations 2020-2021
Status: Finalized
Focus: 2020-2021 Evaluations of Future Leaders Initiatives (FLI) and Future Legacies Programs
Site: U.S. Midwest
Principal Investigators: Mabel C. Okojie, Ph.D. & Hou Chun Kuong, Ed.D.
Partners: Future Institute
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Description: The evaluation of the Future Leaders Initiatives (FLI) and Future Legacies (FL) programs is to assess the perception of the students toward the programs. Structured and unstructured questionnaires, including interviews, were used to collect data from the participants (students). The findings revealed that FLI and FL students had favorable perceptions of the programs. The results also indicated that both FLI and FL students believed that the programs prepared them for future leadership roles, allowed them to explore career options, and created opportunities to acquire job skills. The parents of the students in the FL program also participated in the evaluation by completing an online questionnaire. They (parents) acknowledged that the FL program improved their children’s life chances and career opportunities. The evaluation has been finalized, and the evaluators have prepared and presented reports for the stakeholders.
