Shaping the Social

Initiative Description: The intervention program included components centered on improving the way schools welcome new students and components centered on enhancements of student participation in everyday school life by integrating social and educational activities. The latter included class meetings every morning, break policy and a pleasant physical environment.

Study Results: Shaping the Social was effective in reducing dropout. Higher levels of school connectedness, student support, teacher relatedness, and valuing the profession were all important mediators.

Reference: Andersen, S., Rod, M. H., Holmberg, T., Ingholt, L., Ersbøll, A. K., & Tolstrup, J. S. (2018). Effectiveness of the settings-based intervention Shaping the Social on preventing dropout from vocational education: a Danish non-randomized controlled trial. BMC psychology, 6(1), 45. doi:10.1186/s40359-018-0258-8

Level of Evidence: Very Good