WWC review of this study

Assessing the Effectiveness of First Step to Success: Are Short-Term Results the First Step to Long-Term Behavioral Improvements?

Sumi, W. Carl; Woodbridge, Michelle W.; Javitz, Harold S.; Thornton, S. Patrick; Wagner, Mary; Rouspil, Kristen; Yu, Jennifer W.; Seeley, John R.; Walker, Hill M.; Golly, Annemieke; Small, Jason W.; Feil, Edward G.; Severson, Herbert H. (2013). Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, v21 n1 p66-78. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1005767

  • Quasi-Experimental Design
     examining 
    273
     Students
    , grades
    1-3

Reviewed: September 2013

No statistically significant positive
findings
Meets WWC standards with reservations
External behavior outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Academic engaged time (AET)

First Step to Success vs. Business as usual

Posttest

Full sample;
262 students

0.72

0.67

No

--

Problem behavior (PB) subscale of the social skills rating system (SSRS) for parents

First Step to Success vs. Business as usual

Posttest

Full sample;
242 students

-109.10

-111.98

No

--
Other academic performance outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Academic Competence (AC) subscale of the SSRS for teachers

First Step to Success vs. Business as usual

Posttest

Full sample;
273 students

88.31

86.16

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • 13% English language learners

  • Female: 23%
    Male: 77%

  • Urban
    • B
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    • y

    California, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, West Virginia
  • Race
    Black
    24%
    White
    45%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    27%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    73%
 

Your export should download shortly as a zip archive.

This download will include data files for study and findings review data and a data dictionary.

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