Research and Evaluation - SVPDP

The School Violence Prevention Demonstration Program employs a quasi-experimental design by comparing treatment and control group classes based on pretests and posttest of knowledge and attitudes.  The knowledge component of the test is based on the history and principles of the United States Constitution.  The attitudinal component deals with a students' sense of civic responsibility, tolerance for the ideas of others, respect for authority and the law, and inclusion for all people in the social and political process.  Experimental groups receive regular district social studies or history classes integrated with civics components.  Both quantitative and qualitative measures are used to determine the effect of the program during the course of the school year.  Qualitative measures are assessed through focus groups, teacher questionnaires, and classroom observations.

The findings of the research program touched not only on the changes made in the students but also in the faculty.

• There was a 15% to 20% gain in knowledge for the experimental students over the control group students.
• There were gains in tolerance for the ideas of others and inclusion for all people in the political and social process.
• There were gains between experimental and control groups in students' sense of civic responsibility.
• There was a clear improvement in teacher confidence in teaching about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
• Teachers indicated that their students demonstrated greater interest in civics, government, and social studies as a result of the program.
• Teachers indicated they gained appreciation for the power of performance-based assessment strategies.
• New teachers acquired skills and experienced teachers indicated they felt renewed by their participation in the program.

Program Evaluation