Evaluation Studies
Learn more about how the Grade 4-5 study was conducted here.

Grades 7-8 Nutrition Module
Study published in the Journal of School
Health

Other Evaluation Studies and lists are included here.
 

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Evaluation Results                                            return to Revisions menu

Large Two-State Study Reveals
Michigan Model for Health Improves Student Health Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Behaviors

• A two-year, randomized control study of the effectiveness of the Michigan Model for Health^® curriculum was conducted in the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 school years. It involved over 2,500 students and 300 teachers in Grades 4 and 5 across over 50 schools in Michigan and Indiana.
   

• The principal investigator is Dr. Jim O’Neill from Madonna University, with collaboration by Dr. Jeff Clark of Ball State University. Support was provided by the Michigan Departments of Education and Community Health.
   

• The evaluation included a longitudinal design measuring student health knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors. Data collection involved (a) a pre-test administered before the curriculum was implemented, (b) an immediate post-test at the conclusion of instruction, and (c) a delayed-post test conducted five weeks after the instruction was completed. The design was implemented in Grade 4 and repeated the following year, when the students were in Grade 5.
   

• In Grade 4, students received 25 Michigan Model for Health^® lessons covering four units: social emotional skills, safety, alcohol and tobacco prevention, and physical activity and nutrition. Nearly 90% of teachers implemented all lessons as planned. In Grade 5, students received 28 lessons covering the same units.
   

• To date, pre-post analyses have been conducted on Grade 4 students. Results showed that students who received the Michigan Model for Health^® curriculum showed significant, positive changes compared to a randomized control group of students who did not receive the program.
  Specifically, students who received the Michigan Model for Health^® had:

  • better interpersonal communication skills, social emotional skills,
    and self-management skills;

  • improved pro-safety attitudes;

  • stronger drug and tobacco refusal skills;

  • less reported alcohol and tobacco use in the past 30 days; and

  • enhanced knowledge and skills in physical activity and nutrition.
     

• Some outcomes (e.g., intentions to use drugs) showed no significant differences between the program and control group. It is expected that improvements in some areas may require implementation of at least two grades of Michigan Model for Health^® lessons. This hypothesis will be tested next year, using longitudinal data from Grades 4 and 5.
   

• Students who received the Michigan Model for Health^® did not show negative results on any indicators, compared to the control group.