SOSHANI AND STEINMETZ (2014)- METHODS, PROCEDURE

Question 1

What type of sample did Shoshani & Steinmetz (2014) use?

Answer 1

Volunteer sampling- the reseachers approached 35 middle schools to particpaye in the study and only 8 expressed interest.
(one of the schools was randomly assigned to the intervention and another school worked as a control- matched on age, gender and socio-economic demographics)

Question 2

Where was the study located?

Answer 2

Israel (2 large middle schools)

Question 3

How much students were included in the sample?

Answer 3

1, 167 students (a little more than 1000)

Question 4

What age were the ppts?

Answer 4

11-14 y/o

Question 5

What was the ethnicity of the students?

Answer 5

All Jewish (varying degrees of religiosity)

Question 6

What was the socio-economic stautus of the students?

Answer 6

Mixed. 64% lived in 2 parent households and 36% lived in single parent house holds

Question 7

What method did Shoshani and Stienmetz use?

Answer 7

• Field experiment (conducted in naturalistic setting- schools) .
• Random allocation.
• Longitudinal design (over a 2 year period)

Question 8

Describe the 2 groups (experimental/ control)?

Answer 8

1) Experimental: One of these eight schools was randomly assigned to the intervention program
2) Control: while another, matched demographically, served as a control group and would join the program after the study.

Question 9

Name the 5 self-report methods used in the study?

Answer 9

1. Brief Symptom Invetory (BSI)
2. Rosenbeg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE)
3. Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)
4. Life Orientation Test- Revised (LOTR)
5. General Self-Efficacy Scale (GESS)

Question 10

o Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI):

Answer 10

A 53 item self-report measure used to measure symptoms of mental health disorders through the assessment of 10 subscales (depression, anxiety, hostility, paranoid ideation). Each item is rated on a 4 point likert scale.

Question 11

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE)?

Answer 11

A 10 item self-report measure which assess overall self-esteem and self-worth.

Question 12

Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)?

Answer 12

A 5 item self-report measure which assesses overall life satisfaction.

Question 13

Life Orientation Test- Revised (LOTR)?

Answer 13

A 10 item self-report measure which assessed dispositional optimism.

Question 14

General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES)?

Answer 14

A 10 item self-report measure which assesses generalised self-efficacy.

Question 15

Can you summarise the procedure?

Answer 15

1) Teacher workshops: Teachers attended 15 two-hour long training workshops, run by clinical psychologists. To train them in positive psychology and group dynamics.

2) Student workshop: The teachers created an age-appropriate program using provided materials (activities, discussions, videos, poems) that focused on positive psychology (provided by the researchers. E.G to address gratitude the students were asked to list 5 or more things grateful for that week and to share with the group.
3) Control group Ppts continued with their usual studies, without engaging in the intervention.
4) Questionnaires: Both groups were reqired to complete the questionnaires/ scales