This special issue highlights the theoretical and methodological contributions of positive youth development, and how the field could be further deepened and revitalized by more purposeful inclusion of qualitative methods throughout its studies.
Specifically, pairing positive youth development with qualitative methods allows it to respond more directly to the following critiques of developmental psychology from which it developed:
- that it is largely deficit-based
- that it focuses solely on the individual instead of interaction with context
- that it overemphasizes outcomes and overlooks processes of development
Each article in this issue employs qualitative methods to address one or more of these critiques by exploring topics such as mentoring, adolescent relationships, relationship processes, schooling experiences, and participation.
Editor
Table of contents
Editor's Introduction
Page 1
Josselson, Ruthellen
The Promise of Qualitative Methods for Expanding Theories of Positive Youth Development
Pages 2–6
Futch Ehrlich, Valerie A.
Important Theoretical and Methodological Turning Points for Understanding Contribution With Undocumented Undergraduates
Pages 7–25
Katsiaficas, Dalal; Alcantar, Cynthia M.; Hernandez, Edwin; Samayoa, Erick; Gutierrez, Maria Nava; Texis, Oscar Rodriguez; Williams, Zyshia
Exploring Positive Youth Development Among Young People Who Leave School Without Graduating High School: A Focus on Social and Emotional Competencies
Pages 26–45
Zaff, Jonathan F.; Aasland, Katie; McDermott, Elana; Carvalho, Ana; Joseph, Patrece; Pufall Jones, Elizabeth
On Research, Art, and Transformation: Multigenerational Participatory Research, Critical Positive Youth Development, and Structural Change
Pages 46–58
Fox, Madeline
Leveraging Relational Assets for Adolescent Development: A Qualitative Investigation of Youth–Adult "Connection" in Positive Youth Development
Pages 59–78
Futch Ehrlich, Valerie A.; Deutsch, Nancy L.; Fox, Courtney V.; Johnson, Haley E.; Varga, Shannon M.
"I'm Hoping That I Can Have Better Relationships": Exploring Interpersonal Connection for Young Men
Pages 79–97
Arbeit, Miriam R.; Hershberg, Rachel M.; Rubin, Rachel O.; DeSouza, Lisette M.; Lerner, Jacqueline V.
Trajectories of Trust Within the Youth Program Context
Pages 98–119
Griffith, Aisha N.
On the Qualitative Transformation of Developmental Science: The Contributions of Qualitative Methods
Pages 120–124
Lerner, Richard M.; Tolan, Patrick H.
