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Character Education
Character Education
June 4, 2007

Average improvement indices for each domain

The WWC computes an average improvement index for each domain and each study as well as a domain average improvement index across studies of the same intervention (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 and the percentile rank of the average student in the comparison condition. It can take on values between -50 and +50, with positive numbers denoting results favorable to the intervention group. Unlike the rating of effectiveness, which is based on four factors, the improvement index is based only on the size of the difference between the intervention and the comparison conditions. 1

Behavior

The behavior domain includes observed or reported student behavior outcomes that may be regarded as indicators of socially responsible character (such as participating in community service and supporting peers) or of the lack of it (such as aggressive or delinquent behavior). We reviewed outcomes in this domain for nine character education programs, and the average improvement index ranged from +0 to +19 percentile points (figure 1).

Knowledge, attitudes, and values

The knowledge, attitudes, and values domain includes student outcomes that center on moral and ethical reasoning, as well as attitudes, feelings, predispositions, and self-perceptions that are associated with pro-social character (such as democratic values and empathy) or the lack of it (such racism, positive attitudes toward aggression). We reviewed outcomes in this domain for 10 character education programs, and the average improvement index ranged from +0 to +16 percentile points across programs (figure 2).

Academic achievement

The academic achievement domain includes measures of academic achievement (such as standardized test scores) and measures of academic persistence or participation (such as attendance, retention, and graduation rates). We reviewed outcomes in this domain for three programs, and the average improvement index ranged from +0 to +16 percentile points (figure 3).

1 To enable comparisons across interventions, improvement indices are calculated from student-level findings only. In the case of Positive Action findings in the behavior and academic achievement domains and in the case of Caring School Community findings in the knowledge, attitudes, and values domain, the average improvement index does not represent all the findings reviewed by the WWC, as some findings were reported on the classroom or school level, and student-level improvement indices could not be computed. For further details please see Technical Details of WWC-Conducted Computations.