Research and Results
Elementary Students' Aggression Decreases, Positive Behavior Increases
"Effectiveness of a Violence Prevention Curriculum Among Children in Elementary School: A Randomized Controlled Trial." Grossman, D. C., Neckerman, H. J., Koepsell, T. D., Liu, P. Y., Asher, K. N., Beland, K., Frey, K., and Rivara, F. P. (1997). Journal of the American Medical Association, 277, 1605–1611.
Dr. David Grossman and colleagues at the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center at the University of Washington conducted a randomized control trial of the SECOND STEP curriculum to examine the impact of the program on aggression and positive social behavior among elementary school students (N=790). Observations of students' behavior and teacher reports were used to assess program impact over a one-year period.
Twelve schools were randomized to either receive SECOND STEP or serve as a control condition. Observational data and teacher reports were both used to assess students' behavior at baseline, post-test (at completion of program), and a six-months follow-up.
Observational data indicated that physical aggression decreased among students in the SECOND STEP classrooms, when compared to students in the control classrooms. Six months post-program completion, students in SECOND STEP classrooms continued to show lower levels of aggression. Students receiving SECOND STEP lessons also showed increased prosocial behaviors at post-test when compared to children in the control classrooms.
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