Found Effects

The WWC found Building Decision Skills to have potentially positive effects on knowledge, attitudes, and values.

Improvement index

For each outcome domain, the WWC computed an improvement index based on the average effect size (see the Technical Details of WWC-Conducted Computations). The improvement index represents the difference between the percentile rank of the average student in the intervention condition versus the percentile rank of the average student in the comparison condition. Unlike the rating of effectiveness, the improvement index is entirely based on the size of the effect, regardless of the statistical significance of the effect, study design, or analysis. The improvement index can take on values between -50 and +50, with positive numbers denoting favorable results. The average improvement index for the knowledge, attitudes, and values domain in the study reviewed is +14 percentile points, with a range of +3 to +30 percentile points across findings.

Summary

The WWC reviewed one study on Building Decision Skills combined with service learning. One outcome in the knowledge, attitudes, and values domain was found to be statistically significant (as calculated by the WWC). When the WWC aggregated all seven outcomes the average effect size was substantively important (greater than 0.25). So the WWC rated the program as having potentially positive effects in the knowledge, attitudes, and values domain. Character education, an evolving field, is beginning to establish a research base. The evidence presented in this report is limited and may change as new research emerges.