What is the ISHC?
The ISHC seeks to identify the factors that influence healthy, as well as unhealthy behavior in students. As such, it is particularly suited to the educational aims of schools and to the construction of programs that highlight strategies for wellness, along with risk prevention.
The survey can also help a school distinguish between reality and perception. Research has shown that students and adults often misjudge the prevalence of various student attitudes and behaviors. The Health Check helps ground discourse and decision-making in objective reality and offers students realistic social norms.
Students respond on school computers to a 30-minute, 100-question
survey. Three age-appropriate versions available: 6-8 Middle School,
9-12 Day School, 9-12 Boarding School. Computer administration provides
rapid, accurate tabulation of student behaviors and attitudes:
What can the ISHC do?
Evaluate student strengths and weaknesses, risk and protective factors.
Develop strategies for health education based on empirical data about what your students really do.
Address the discrepancy between perception
and reality. Numerous studies of schools have shown that students
invariably overestimate other students’ unhealthy behavior, thus
increasing their own susceptibility, as in the notion that "everybody
does it." Share ISHC data with students and parents to encourage
healthy behavior—a proven strategy.
Track behavioral changes between grade levels and use follow-up surveys to monitor response to intervention.
Analyze results with an ISHC prepared package that includes:
- Tables of data
- Correlations between useful data sets
- A summary of findings
Survey with confidence. Each survey administrator receives:
- Sample communications with parents, students, and faculty
- Check lists covering every step of administration
- Forms to meet legal and ethical requirements
- Consultations with ISHC staff
- Validated methodology
Why Use the ISHC?
The
Health Check has a careful design history and has been guided by the
extensive experience its creators have both in independent schools and
with surveys. Unlike other surveys, the ISHC seeks to identify the
factors that influence healthy, as well as unhealthy behavior. As such,
it is particularly suited to the educational aims of schools and to the
construction of programs that highlight strategies for wellness, along
with risk prevention.
The survey can also help a school distinguish between
reality and perception. Research has shown that students and adults
often misjudge the prevalence of various student attitudes and
behaviors. The Health Check helps ground discourse and decision-making
in objective reality and offers students realistic social norms.
This 30 minute, 90 question survey has been specifically
designed to reflect what is really going on with your students’ lives- -
in and out of school —and to provide a global picture of their
thoughts, concerns and feelings about themselves and others. Many
questions speak to areas particularly pertinent to independent school
students—academic motivation, stress levels, and parental oversight.
Questions have evolved from work with student focus groups, and the
instrument has been field-tested at three independent schools for
validity and for ease of administration.
Questions from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey [Centers
for Disease Control] are interwoven into the ISHC to provide some
comparison national data. The experience of the CDC and the Health
Check designers has been that such surveys provide meaningful pictures
of behavior. Because their confidentiality is completely protected,
students tell the truth about themselves.
Throughout the ISHC process, the staff is available to
help you plan and organize the survey, and each school will receive a
manual to highlight necessary tasks along the way, including sample
notices to the community. After the completion of the survey, the data
will be organized into a report and form the basis for subsequent
professional consultations, resources and further guidance.