Guide to Effective Programs
for Children and Youth

RELATE Program for Teens

OVERVIEW

RELATE for Teens is a computer-based program designed to help improve behavioral skills, prevent usage of drugs and alcohol, improve academic achievement, and reduce aggressive and violent behavior. The program includes video stories, cognitive and behavioral training, media analysis, and review/assessment exercises. The study described below found that the RELATE for Teens program was effective in increasing positive social behaviors and reducing negative social behaviors.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target population: Middle school students

RELATE for Teens programs are exclusively computer-based activities which cover more than 350 issues relating to adolescent development. Students can choose from a large variety of tools, including short video clips, assessment exercises, etc., to examine any issue more in-depth. The schedule of the program is flexible and allows for students to examine issues either on a specified schedule or at their own pace. Instructors can track students’ progress through additional computer programs or request that students complete and print out individual modules.

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

Stern, R. & Repa, J. T. (2000). A study of the efficacy of computerized skill building for adolescents: Reducing aggression and increasing pro-social behavior (Report No. IR020414). New York, NY: New York City Board of Education. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED447792)

Evaluated population: 57 7^th and 8^th grade students from public middle schools in New York City. The sample was racially and ethnically diverse, with a nearly equal representation of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Caucasian students. Each treatment group consisted of students with a wide range of academic abilities.

Approach: Students were individually and randomly assigned to one of three conditions: computer-based training (n=17), teacher-directed computer-based training (n=17), and a control group (n=23). Students in the computer-based training without teacher direction were given a set lesson plan of 24 topics to explore over a span of 12 weeks. Students in the teacher-directed computer-based teaching condition received the same lesson plan as the other treatment condition. Additionally, students in this condition participated in role play activities and discussions led by a teacher and guidance counselor. Students in both treatment conditions participated in the program several times every week during classroom free time. Data were collected through observations, school records, and tracking forms.

Results: Researcher observations found that students in both treatment conditions performed more positive social behaviors, and fewer negative behaviors when compared with the control group. Intervention groups also had fewer negative social behaviors on the subscales measuring “conflict resolution” and “kindness”. Furthermore, both treatment groups had more instances of positive social behaviors on the subscales measuring respect and sharing. Academic performance was found to increase in both treatment groups, but not at a significant level. Computer-based training without teacher direction treatment groups were found to have more pro-social behaviors on the respect scale compared with the other two groups, control and computer-based training with teacher direction.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

Link to program curriculum: http://www.rippleeffects.com/education/software/teens.html

References

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

Evaluated participant ages: 7^th and 8^th grade middle school students / Program age ranges in the Guide: adolescence

Program components: school-based

Measured outcomes: education and cognitive development, social and emotional health and development, behavioral problems, positive citizenship

Program information last updated 3/14/07