Evaluation of a primary school drug drama project: methodological issues and key findings

This paper describes the impact evaluation of a primary school drug drama project developed by a health promotion service and a theatre's education department in England. The project targeted 10-11 year olds in 41 schools with an interactive drama production and workshop day on attitudes, choices, decisions and risks of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug use. Parents were also involved in parents' evenings and watching children's performances. The research consisted of both process evaluation, consultation with pupils, teachers, parents, actors and health promotion staff on the project itself, and impact evaluation which looked at potential changes in children's knowledge, attitudes and decision-making skills. This paper reports findings of the impact evaluation, from six of the schools participating in the project. The impact evaluation consisted of pre- and post-project testing using a 'draw and write' and a problem-solving exercise. These findings suggest that the project had a significant impact on the children's knowledge of names of specific illegal drugs, and on their awareness that alcohol and cigarettes were also drugs, and secondly encouraged the children to think in less stereotypical terms about drugs and drug users. The problem-solving exercise, involving decision-making scenarios, showed small but positive trends between pre- and post-project solutions in more than half of the response categories. Methodological difficulties relating to evaluating such a project are discussed.