Article

 

Using Social-Emotional and Character Development to Improve Academic Outcomes: A Matched-Pair, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Low-Income, Urban Schools Public Deposited

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/xk81jm023

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • BACKGROUND: School-based social-emotional and character development (SECD) programs can influence not only SECD, but also academic-related outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of one SECD program, Positive Action (PA), on educational outcomes among low-income, urban youth. METHODS: The longitudinal study used a matched-pair, cluster-randomized controlled design. Student-reported disaffection with learning and academic grades, and teacher ratings of academic ability and motivation were assessed for a cohort followed from grades 3 to 8. Aggregate school records were used to assess standardized test performance (for entire school, cohort, and demographic subgroups) and absenteeism (entire school). Multilevel growth-curve analyses tested program effects. RESULTS: PA significantly improved growth in academic motivation and mitigated disaffection with learning. There was a positive impact of PA on absenteeism and marginally significant impact on math performance of all students. There were favorable program effects on reading for African American males and cohort students transitioning between grades 7 and 8, and on math for females and low-income students. CONCLUSIONS: A school-based SECD program was found to influence academic outcomes among students living in low-income, urban communities. Future research should examine mechanisms by which changes in SECD influence changes in academic outcomes.
  • Keywords: Public Health, Emotional Health, Child & Adolescent Health
  • Keywords: Public Health, Emotional Health, Child & Adolescent Health
Resource Type
DOI
Date Available
Date Issued
Citation
  • Bavarian, N., Lewis, K. M., DuBois, D. L., Acock, A., Vuchinich, S., Silverthorn, N., Snyder, F. J., Day, J., Ji, P., & Flay, B. R. (2013). Using social-emotional and character development to improve academic outcomes: A matched-pair, cluster-randomized trial in low-income, urban schools. Journal of School Health, 83, 771-779.
Journal Title
Journal Volume
  • 83
Journal Issue/Number
  • 11
Academic Affiliation
Rights Statement
Funding Statement (additional comments about funding)
  • The findings reported here are based on research funded by grants from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), U.S. Department of Education: R305L030072, R305L030004 and R305A080253 to the University of Illinois at Chicago (2003-2005) and Oregon State University (2005-2012). The SACD Research Program is a collaboration among IES, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention, Mathematica Policy Research Inc. (MPR), and awardees of SACD cooperative agreements (Children’s Institute, New York University, Oregon State University, University at Buffalo-SUNY, University of Maryland, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Vanderbilt University). Moreover, the preparation of this manuscript was supported, in part by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAAT32 AA014125).
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language
Replaces

Relationships

Parents:

This work has no parents.

Items