Within this arena, LSAC is specifically interested in studies that focus on African American males, but any such study must necessarily include comparison or control groups outside of that population, and findings should also allow for generalizations across institutions. Therefore, any such study should draw data from several institutions.
Examples of research topics of particular interest include:
- Points of leakage in the educational pipeline for minority students, both descriptive information and causal inquiries
- Gender differences in the pipeline, both descriptive information and causal inquiries
- Effective intervention strategies, such as longitudinal analyses and evaluations of early-pipeline programs
- Alternative predictors of success in law school, such as analyses of admission criteria other than LSAT scores and UGPAs that may effectively predict law school performance for minority candidates with low numeric credentials
LSAC is aware that a great deal of research has already been conducted in this area. As a result, there is great interest in studies that include comprehensive literature reviews and analyses of all available data. It is expected that a thorough research proposal will include a literature review of existing research and a statement describing how the proposed study will add to basic knowledge in this particular area of research. Proposals for studies within a single institution will not be eligible for funding.