Effectiveness

Findings

The WWC review of character education addresses student outcomes in three domains: behavior; knowledge, attitudes, and values; and academic achievement.

Behavior. On one behavioral measure, ethical conduct, the study reported a statistically significant worse outcome for students in grades 1–3 using An Ethics Curriculum for Children (compared with the group that did not receive the curriculum) and a statistically significant better outcome for the students in grades 4–6 using Heartwood Ethics Curriculum for Children. However, the differences for students in grades 1–3 and for students in grades 4–6 (as calculated by the WWC) were neither statistically significant nor large enough to be considered substantively important using WWC criteria. ³ On a second behavioral measure (simulated cheating), there were no statistically significant or substantively important differences for either grade range. Another behavioral measure, school disciplinary reports, was also included in the study, but the results were presented only at the aggregate school level and could not be compared in a way that met WWC evidence standards. So this measure was not included in the review.

Knowledge, attitudes, and values. For grades 1–3, Leming reported statistically significant better outcomes for students using Heartwood Ethics Curriculum for Children on two character-related measures (ethical understanding and ethnocentrism) and no statistically significant difference on a third (ethical sensibility). For grades 4–6 statistically significant better outcomes were reported for students using Heartwood Ethics Curriculum for Children on one measure (ethical understanding), a statistically significant worse outcome on a second (ethical sensibility), and no difference on the third (ethnocentrism). The differences (as calculated by the WWC) in this domain were neither statistically significant nor large enough to be considered substantively important. ³

Rating of effectiveness

The WWC rates interventions as positive, potentially positive, mixed, no discernible effects, potentially negative, or negative. The rating of effectiveness takes into account four factors: the quality of the research design, the statistical significance of the findings (as calculated by the WWC), the size of the difference between participants in the intervention and the comparison conditions, and the consistency in findings across studies (see the WWC Intervention Rating Scheme).