DATA SET: MIDDLE YEARS DEVELOPMENT INSTRUMENT (MDI)

Date range: From 2010 onwards

Data source: The Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP)

Description: The Middle Development Instrument (MDI) is a questionnaire designed to measure the developmental health and well-being of children in middle childhood. The MDI was developed by researchers at UBC in collaboration with the United Way of the Lower Mainland and the Vancouver School Board. This is a self-report questionnaire completed by children in Grade 4 where all the questions are read out loud by a classroom teacher. The questions measure five areas of development and well-being: (1) social and emotional development; (2) connectedness; (3) school experiences; (4) physical health and well-being; and (5) constructive us of time.
Date Range: From 2010 onwards.

For further information on the MDI, including aggregate data inquiries or published information on the MDI visit: http://www.earlylearning.ubc.ca/research/initiatives/middle-development-instrument/

Conditions for access to MDI data

For access to MDI data (through Population Data BC) researchers must meet all of the following conditions:

1. The researcher must be from The University of British Columbia, the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), or an affiliate or partner of HELP.
2. The researcher must complete a form (in addition to completion of a Data Access Request (DAR)), which outlines how the researcher project relates to the Middle Childhood Development Program of Research. The MDI/HELP Data Steward will have decision-making authority on the relevance to the MCDPR.
   
   Researchers will have to provide an explanations of one or more of the following:
   
   
   • Explain their project's relevance for the overall MCDPR.
   
   
   • Does the project contribute in some manner to the psychometrics of MDI?
   
   
   • Does the project expand our understanding of MCD relevant for the MCDPR?
     
     
   • Does the project contribute in a unique manner that is not identified here?
3. Researchers are required to share their results with HELP in order to ensure that their project will contribute to the ongoing work of the program of research.

Fields Available

• Demographic Section (from school district)
• Teacher Information
• Demographic Section (from student)
• Sample questions
• Questionnare
• Derived Variables: Calculated from Item Level Responses
• Geographic Codes: based on Postal Codes