Effectiveness of refusal skills software

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Technology in Education

Background:

• Social skills training is crucial for adolescent development.
• Traditional methods may lack accessibility and scalability in school settings.
• Computer-aided instruction offers a promising avenue for enhancing social skills education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of computer-aided instruction for social skills training.
• To assess the impact of the 'Refusal Challenges' software on refusal skills.
• To determine the accessibility and efficacy of technology-based social skills interventions in schools.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 188 eighth-grade students.
• Participants were stratified by pre-treatment skill level, gender, and teacher.
• Students were assigned to either computer-based refusal skills training or a control group.

Main Results:

• A significant time by treatment interaction was observed for refusal skills scores.
• The computer-based training group demonstrated significant improvements post-intervention.
• These improvements were sustained at follow-up testing, indicating lasting effects.

Conclusions:

• Computer-aided instruction, specifically the 'Refusal Challenges' software, is an effective method for teaching refusal skills.
• This technology-based approach enhances the accessibility of social skills training in schools.
• The findings support the integration of digital tools for improving adolescent social competence.