Contact Information
For any questions, please contact goals@nd.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why are there differences between Baltimore and Nashville results?
While the #GOALS experience was consistent across both cities, differences in results are expected. Students in each location may start with different levels of exposure, confidence, and interest, which influences how much change is observed.
How long do middle school students stay in the #GOALS program and evaluation?
Students typically participate in the #GOALS live experience during middle school, and the evaluation study aims to follow students longitudinally into high school to understand how their interests and career pathways develop over time.
How long is the Roblox Medical game?
The Roblox medical game is designed as an interactive learning environment rather than a fixed-length game. Different themes and activities within the game typically take approximately 6–10 minutes each. The overall gameplay experience during prototype testing has averaged around 20–25 minutes, depending on the assigned tasks and student engagement levels.
Do students who participate in the study transition to medical careers?
Since many participants are still in middle and high school, it is too early to determine final career outcomes. However, the goal of the study is to examine whether early exposure to healthcare increases students’ long-term interest, confidence, and engagement in medical career pathways.
Did one city perform better than the other?
Not necessarily. Both Baltimore and Nashville showed meaningful positive impact. The differences reflect variation in student starting points and how change is measured, not the effectiveness of the program.
Why does Nashville show stronger measurable outcomes?
Nashville had a larger number of participants and more complete data, including stronger use of game-based measurement. This allowed for clearer and more detailed insights into student growth.
How does a student starting point affect results?
Students who are unsure or “on the fence” tend to show the biggest improvements. If one site has more of these students, the measured impact may appear stronger.
Why use a game (Roblox) for data collection?
The Roblox platform allows students to engage in a familiar, interactive environment. It captures more natural responses and real behavior, making it a more sensitive and reliable way to measure change compared to traditional surveys.
Does this mean the program works differently in different places?
The core program works consistently, but outcomes can vary based on context, such as school environment, student background, and prior exposure to STEM.
What is the key takeaway?
Across both Baltimore and Nashville, students showed increased interest, confidence, and connection to healthcare careers. The program is effective, and differences in results help us better understand how to improve and scale impact.