Caring Habits Research DATA

 

"The number of honor roll students is increasing in the Caring Habits schools while indicators of disciplinary actions are declining."

- Dr. Edmund Ricci, Department Chairman

  University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of

  Public Health

 

Summary of Research* (1998-2003)

• School Honor Rolls increased an average of 18.5%

• School detentions and suspensions decreased an average of 22.5%

Improved PSSA state standardized test scores in reporting schools

• 62.8% worked harder in school

• 51% completed homework more often

• 54.6% have learned to set positive goals and to achieve them 

• 85% reported more caring respectful behaviors

• 46% have done something beneficial at home

• 61% have done something nice for someone.

*Pilot Research, 1998-2000, evaluated and documented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. 2001-2003 school outcomes evaluated by Dr. Edmund Ricci, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health

Research Summary Excerpt

"The data we have examined, coupled with our observations, enable me at this time to conclude the following: 1) It appears as though the the Caring Habit of the Month Program is having the desired impact on several of the student behaviors which the Caring Habit Program is designed to improve. We are noticing a decline in indicators of disciplinary action for negative behaviors such as teacher referral for discipline, expulsion from school and arrests. The impact on suspensions is unclear at this time.

In addition, the number of students who have achieved honor roll and high honor roll status is increasing in the Caring Habits schools; 2) With regard to the attitudinal variable (based on student self-report), it appears as though students are working harder. In one school they are more effectively setting goals and doing "something nice" on a regular basis. These are certainly positive attitudinal change indicators. I believe improvements which we are planning to implement in the way we measure student attitudes will lead to more clear-cut evidence." - June 20, 2003

Six Independent Studies of Caring Habits Performance Outcomes

1992 - Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Random community phone surveys, Somerset, PA - Sherri Dunlap, Marketing Department Intern. (Results are available)

1994 - Pennsylvania Downtown Centers

Random focus groups and written surveys - Somerset, PA. (Results are available)

1998-2000 - HIGHMARK Blue Cross Blue Shield

Pre and post written surveys of 600 Caring Habit pilot middle school students - Janice Seigle, Independent Evaluator. (Results are available)

2000-2003 - University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health

Pre-collected and post collected data analysis and evaluation from two urban middle schools. Primary Investigator, Dr. Edmund M. Ricci, Ph.D. Research by Judith A. Kaufmann, BS.Ed., MA, MSN (Final report due in August 2004)

2003 - The Pennsylvania Department of Education

On-site evaluation of Caring Habits in eleven Pittsburgh Public Elementary Schools. Robert Shumer, Ph.D. (Report available as PDF)

2005 - Johns Hopkins University

Caring Habits research model evaluation and re-design supported by six youth focus groups evaluation Caring Habits model, habits and themes. 

Positive Academic Performance and Behavioral Changes in Caring Habits School Partners!

QUALITATIVE NOTES

ABOUT CARING HABIT PROJECT RESULTS

“Mission Impossible” is the name, Principal Dr. Melvin Steals, in 1997, gave to the task of transforming a violent, low-achieving Aliquippa Middle School into a non-violent high-performing school. When Dr. Steals arrived at Aliquippa he found a culture that was exceedingly tense.

“Violence would erupt spontaneously. Children arrived at school fighting as they came off the buses. They came rolling into school for breakfast fighting.”

Between 1995 and 1998, school suspensions for violent behavior increased by 92% (from 352 to 676). By March 1998, Aliquippa became one of eight districts on Governor Ridge’s Distressed School Watch List.

In May, 1998, a SEARCH Institute Study of youth well being at Aliquippa reported that only 16% of Aliquippa students felt that school provided a caring and encouraging environment. This score was the lowest of all 40 youth developmental assets measured by the research.

After two years of Caring Habit© of the Month Adventure activity at Aliquippa Middle School, every administrator agreed that the Caring Habits program helped to reduce conflicts and tension and improved academics and social behaviors in such a way that learning was happening in a calmer, less violent and more caring environment. Hall monitors were eliminated.

One student commented, “I am now nice to people I used to be mean to.” 

According to the Principal, Dr. Melvin Steals, “The effect of the Caring Habits program was so dramatic that within 5 months our school was no longer a battle zone.” Problems relating to drugs and alcohol within the school were no longer apparent. Class disruptions were less frequent and by the end of the first year, suspensions had decreased 30% (To 523).

Independent Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield surveys, report that students perceived themselves to be less likely to engage in fights, less likely to use drugs and alcohol, less likely to carry a weapon or threaten others, and less likely to damage school property. 

Another student survey mentioned that every teacher, at least once, demonstrated a caring behavior toward students.  Some student comments were, “I stopped fighting and changed my attitude.”  “I did more and more of my homework to bring up my grades.” “It’s good habits to change your bad ones.” “I now give my teachers more respect. “I have been listening better to my parents.”

Dr. Steals believes that, as the protocol grows and expands, promoting Caring Habit behaviors can reduce the kind of violence that results in costly injuries and serve economic and corporate objectives, by improving the quality of the work force.

A new dimension of performance is achieved with the dramatic efficiency and effectiveness, and dependability of media driven strategies to support student academic and social goals. The phenomenon is so new that only one 1997 textbook is published on the subject; Social Marketing, by Dr. Alan Andreason of Georgetown University. Achieving media-inspired outcomes with youth is especially appropriate. Recent studies reveal that media and peers have replaced school and family as the numbers one and two influence on youth.

1998-1999 HIGHMARK Blue Cross Blue Shield Evaluated Pilot Middle School Results

Worked harder in school? - survey results: 45% Yes

Done more homework? - survey results: 68%

Set goals and achieve them? - survey results: 22%

Done something nice for someone? - survey results: 38%

Done something good at home? - survey results: 28%

Like to have Caring Habits next year? - survey results: 82%

25% reduction in the number of school suspensions after 

9 months of Caring Habits 

(after a 92% rise over the prior three years)

1999-2000 Pilot Middle School Middle School  Academic Performance

PSSA Science performance increased one year and 9 months

PSSA Math performance increased one year 6 months

The number of students making Honor Roll increased 39%

2000-2003 Middle School One Academic Performance

The number of students making Honor Roll increased 13%

The number of students making High Honor Roll increased 68%

2000-2003 Middle School One Behavioral Changes

Worked harder in school? - survey results: 71% Yes

Done more homework? - survey results: 60%

Set goals and achieve them? - survey results: 72%

Done something nice for someone? - survey results: 356%

Done something good at home? - survey results: 50%

Like to have Caring Habits next year? - survey results: 78%

42% reduction in long-term school suspensions after 9 months of Caring Habits 

(50% reduction in the 3rd year)

2001-2003 Middle School Two Behavioral Changes

Worked harder in school? - survey results: 75% Yes

Done more homework? - survey results: 48%

Set goals and achieve them? - survey results: 49%

Done something nice for someone? - survey results: 72%

Done something good at home? - survey results: 57%

Like to have Caring Habits next year? - survey results: 71%

2001-2003 Middle School Two Academic Performance

The number of students making Honor Roll increased 

The number of students making High Honor Roll increased