Measuring Kindness: The Development of a Survey Instrument for Ben's Bells

Abstract

In order to evaluate Kind Campus, a program created by the non-profit organization Ben's Bells, a measurement instrument was created to measure the output of what the program is aiming for-a kinder school culture through the eyes of students and staff. This evaluative measure was constructed with the use of concept mapping, as well as the input from various individuals and a great deal of compilation. Some of the questions in the survey are original questions created through brainstorming and discussion, while others are questions pulled from already-established measures. The survey was piloted at a local middle school, adapted based on the comments from this session, and then given out to schools to complete. The measurement instrument created may or may not be able to give an accurate depiction of any shifts that may have occurred in the kindness of schools.