New What Works Clearinghouse Intervention Report on Good Behavior Game

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) recently reviewed the research on the effectiveness of Good Behavior Game, a classroom management strategy that aims to help teachers improve student social skills, minimize disruptive behaviors, and create a positive learning environment. The results are summarized in an intervention report released today by IES. The WWC identified 87 studies that investigated the effectiveness of Good Behavior Game. Sixteen studies meet WWC standards and are summarized in the report. The studies included 8,387 students in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, and other unknown states; Northern Ireland; and the United Kingdom. Based on these studies, the WWC found strong evidence that Good Behavior Game positively impacted student behavior and promising evidence that Good Behavior Game positively impacted teacher practice, student writing conventions, and student writing productivity, compared with business-as-usual instruction in 15 studies and a mindfulness skills training in one study. The WWC found uncertain effects on literacy and math achievement, student intrapersonal competencies, and school climate. An additional 15 studies meet WWC single-case design standards but do not contribute to the findings in the intervention report because the WWC was unable to measure the extent to which Good Behavior Game resulted in improved outcomes in those studies. These studies are described in the appendix. Read the full Good Behavior Game intervention report to learn more about the studies that contributed to the report and about program implementation and cost. To see other WWC reports, visit whatworks.ed.gov and check your inbox for more updates and new releases throughout the year. For the latest WWC news, follow the WWC on Twitter and Facebook.