Using pre-test and post-test data to understand spirituality programs: opportunities and limitations

ABSTRACT

Quantitatively studying spirituality and spirituality programs poses a challenge because of the imprecision of data and limitations of data analysis techniques. In this research using data from Ignatius University, I show practical methods for analysing pre-test and post-test data, and conceptual opportunities and limitations when using these datasets. For the practical part, I find that the university’s sophomore spirituality programs have substantial positive effects in helping students with Christian discernment and ministry. For the conceptual part, I show opportunities that include analysis of variance for mean scores and percentages, and analysis technique that further improve spirituality programs. Limitations include non-causal assumptions, ceiling effect, and the problem of too many ‘outcome’ variables.

KEYWORDS:

• Quantitative analysis
• evaluation
• analysis of variance
• Catholic school

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Roberto Conrado Guevara, Joseph Adrian Capuno, Ophalle Alzona, Noelle Flores, Rizalina Simpas and colleagues at the student formation offices of the university. The author also thanks the reviewers and editors of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jose Eos Trinidad

Jose Eos Trinidad is Instructor at the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and Coordinator for Research and Outreach of the Ateneo de Manila Institute for the Science and Art of Learning of Teaching (Ateneo SALT Institute). He received his bachelor’s degree from the same university and his graduate degree at the University of Chicago. He is interested in noncognitive factors that affect learning and how these factors affect education systems.