Research

Twelve studies reviewed by the WWC investigated the effects of the Positive Action program. One study of the impact of Positive Action on elementary school students met WWC evidence standards, and one study met standards with reservations. One study (Flay, Acock, Vuchinich, & Beets, 2006) was a randomized controlled trial. The second study (Flay & Allred, 2003) used a quasi-experimental design. The remaining 10 studies did not meet WWC evidence screens.

Flay and Allred (2003) included 36 elementary schools in a large Southeastern school district. The study compared outcomes for students participating in the Positive Action program with the outcomes for students in schools that did not use this program. The study focused on Positive Action as implemented schoolwide.

Extent of evidence

The WWC categorizes the extent of evidence in each domain as small or medium to large (see the What Works Clearinghouse Extent of Evidence Categorization Scheme). The extent of evidence takes into account the number of studies and the total sample size across the studies that met WWC evidence standards with or without reservations.³

The WWC considers the extent of evidence for Positive Action to be medium to large for behavior and for academic achievement.