Douglas Kirby
Encyclopedia
Douglas Bernard Kirby, Ph.D. (born October 9, 1943) is senior research scientist for ETR Associates in Scotts Valley, California
, and one of the world’s leading experts on the effectiveness of school and community programs in the reduction of adolescent sexual risk-taking behaviors
. In recent years he has also undertaken research and analysis on the impact of HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Uganda under the auspices of the World Health Organization
, USAID, and other organizations.
Kirby has authored over 100 articles, chapters and monographs on these programs including the widely acclaimed Emerging Answers 2007: Research Finding on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases which he produced for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. It is a comprehensive review of 115 program evaluations to help determine the most effective approaches to preventing teen pregnancy and STDs. It paints a detailed picture of the protective factors associated with adolescent risk taking behavior and identifies important characteristics of effective sexuality and HIV education programs. His recent research has shown strong evidence for the effectiveness of comprehensive sex and STD/HIV programs and limited evidence for the effectiveness of sexual abstinence
programs.
. He did his undergraduate education at the University of Chicago
and UC Berkeley, receiving his Bachelor of Arts
in 1966. After a stint as a Vista volunteer in Appalachia
, Kirby attended UCLA where he received his Ph.D.
in Sociology
in 1975. From 1977 to 1983 he worked as Director of the Social Science Group for Mathtech, Inc. in Washington D.C.. While at Mathtech he directed a research project to analyze the state of sex education in the United States
. From 1983 to 1988 he worked with The Center for Population Options (now Advocates for Youth
) and did a national study on the impact of school health programs on teen sexual behavior. In 1988, Dr. Kirby went to work for ETR Associates in Scotts Valley, CA. where he has served as Senior Research Scientist and director of many projects on adolescent health and risk taking behavior. His father, Bernard C. Kirby, was a sociology professor at San Diego State University
(1954–1975), and his brother Robion Kirby
, is a professor of mathematics at UC Berkeley.
Scotts Valley, California
Scotts Valley is a small city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States, about thirty miles south of downtown San Jose and six miles north of Monterey Bay, in the upland slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,580...
, and one of the world’s leading experts on the effectiveness of school and community programs in the reduction of adolescent sexual risk-taking behaviors
Adolescent sexuality
Adolescent sexuality refers to sexual feelings, behavior and development in adolescents and is a stage of human sexuality. Sexuality is often a vital aspect of teenagers' lives...
. In recent years he has also undertaken research and analysis on the impact of HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Uganda under the auspices of the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, USAID, and other organizations.
Kirby has authored over 100 articles, chapters and monographs on these programs including the widely acclaimed Emerging Answers 2007: Research Finding on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases which he produced for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. It is a comprehensive review of 115 program evaluations to help determine the most effective approaches to preventing teen pregnancy and STDs. It paints a detailed picture of the protective factors associated with adolescent risk taking behavior and identifies important characteristics of effective sexuality and HIV education programs. His recent research has shown strong evidence for the effectiveness of comprehensive sex and STD/HIV programs and limited evidence for the effectiveness of sexual abstinence
Sexual abstinence
Sexual abstinence is the practice of refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity for medical, psychological, legal, social, philosophical or religious reasons.Common reasons for practicing sexual abstinence include:*poor health - medical celibacy...
programs.
Biography
Douglas Kirby was born in Walla Walla, WashingtonWalla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
. He did his undergraduate education at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and UC Berkeley, receiving his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1966. After a stint as a Vista volunteer in Appalachia
Appalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
, Kirby attended UCLA where he received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in 1975. From 1977 to 1983 he worked as Director of the Social Science Group for Mathtech, Inc. in Washington D.C.. While at Mathtech he directed a research project to analyze the state of sex education in the United States
Sex education in the United States
Sex education in the United States is taught in two main forms: comprehensive and abstinence-only. Comprehensive sex education covers abstinence as a positive choice, but also teaches the benefits of contraception and the avoidance of sexually transmitted diseases between sexually active individuals...
. From 1983 to 1988 he worked with The Center for Population Options (now Advocates for Youth
Advocates for Youth
Advocates for Youth is a nonprofit organization and advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., USA, dedicated to sexuality education, the prevention of HIV and of sexually transmitted disease, teenage pregnancy prevention, youth access to condoms and contraception , equality for LGBT youth, and...
) and did a national study on the impact of school health programs on teen sexual behavior. In 1988, Dr. Kirby went to work for ETR Associates in Scotts Valley, CA. where he has served as Senior Research Scientist and director of many projects on adolescent health and risk taking behavior. His father, Bernard C. Kirby, was a sociology professor at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
(1954–1975), and his brother Robion Kirby
Robion Kirby
Robion Cromwell Kirby is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley who specializes in low-dimensional topology...
, is a professor of mathematics at UC Berkeley.
Professional Awards
- American School Health Association William A Howe Award. Tampa Florida, 2008.
- American School Health Association John P McGovern Award, Tampa Florida, 2008.
- The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Award for Distinguished Scientific Achievement, Puerto Rico, 2008.
- South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Research in Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Columbia, South Carolina, 2005.
- CACSAP Beatrice Gore Award, California Alliance Concerned with School-Age Parenting and Pregnancy Prevention, San Francisco, 2005.
- AASECT Professional Standard of Excellence Award 2005, American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists, Portland, 2005.
- NOAPPP 2004 Outstanding Researcher Award, National Organization for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting, New Orleans, 2004.
- ASHA Research Award for Outstanding Contributions to Research in School Health, American School Health Association, Denver, 1998.
Selected publications
- Kirby, D (2008) The Impact of Abstinence and Comprehensive Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs on Adolescent Sexual Behavior Sexuality Research and Social Policy (2008;5(3):6-17)
- Kirby, D (2007) Emerging Answers 2007: Research Finding on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Washington, D.C.: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
- Kirby, D., Rolleri, L., & Wilson, M. (2007) Tool to Assess the Characteristics of Effective Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs. Washington, D.C.: Healthy Teen Network
- Kirby D. (2006) Comprehensive sex education: Strong public support and persuasive evidence of impact, but little funding. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 160, 1182–1184
- Kirby, D., Obasi, A., & Laris, B. (2006) The effectiveness of sex education and HIV education interventions in schools in developing countries. In D. Ross, B. Dick & J. Ferguson (Eds.) Preventing HIV/AIDS in Young People: A Systematic Review of the Evidence from Developing Countries. Geneva: World Health Organization.
- Kirby, D., Lepore, G., & Ryan, J. (2005) Sexual Risk and Protective Factors: Factors Affecting Teen Sexual Behavior, Pregnancy, Childbearing. Washington DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
- Kirby, D. (2004) Logic Models: A Useful Tool for Designing, Strengthening and Evaluating Programs to Reduce Adolescent Sexual Risk-Taking, Pregnancy, HIV and Other STDs Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (ReCapp). ETR Associates.
- Kirby, D. (2002) Antecedents of Adolescent Initiation of Sex, Contraceptive use and Pregnancy. American Journal of Health Behavior, 26(6), 473-485
- Kirby, D. (2001) Understanding what works and what doesn’t in reducing adolescent sexual risk-taking. Family Planning Perspectives, 33(6), 276-281
- Kirby, D. (1997) No Easy Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy. Washington D.C.: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
- Kirby, D. (1991) School-Based Clinics: Research Results and Their Implications for Future Research Methods. Evaluation and Program Planning, 14, 35-47
- Kirby, Douglas Bernard (1975) An empirical analysis of correlates of international conflict Ph.D. thesis, UCLA Libraries and Collections