The revised, unified First Step Next retains the efficacy of the original program in preschool settings, though parent-reported effects remain small¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2020 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Standardizing the preschool and early elementary components into a unified program and adding Super Student Skills did not reduce effect sizes relative to previous studies. → Feil 2020

Evidence¶

Feil 2020¶

Feil, E. G., Walker, H. M., Frey, A. J., Seeley, J. R., Small, J. W., Golly, A., Lee, J., & Forness, S. R. (2020). Efficacy Validation of the Revised First Step Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Exceptional Children. https://journals.sagepub.com/home/ecx

q3 · i? · causal · r2

Authors' interpretation comparing this RCT's effect sizes with prior First Step RCTs (e.g., Feil et al., 2014, where teacher-measure effect sizes ranged approximately 0.7 to 0.9 and parent measures 0.3 to 0.4). This is an interpretive claim, not a direct statistical comparison within the study.

"this study adds to its accumulated literature base by providing empirical support that the revised program, which unified the preschool and elementary versions and streamlined components to improve usability and satisfaction, retains its effectiveness in the preschool population"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• First Step Next significantly improves pro-social behavior in at-risk preschoolers, with Hedges' g effect sizes from .34 to .91 — related
• First Step Next reduces relational aggression and child-teacher conflict in at-risk preschoolers — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Teachers, parents, and coaches report high satisfaction and strong coach-teacher alliance with First Step Next — related
• In the FSN national effectiveness trial (Sumi et al., 2013), effect sizes were smaller, ranging from 0.21 to 0.67 — related
• First Step Next replication RCTs produced small to large effect sizes and statistically significant behavioral gains compared with control conditions — a broader claim this one bears on
• FSN's impact was more robust in the school setting than in the home setting across all five RCTs — related
• Parent-reported outcomes for the PFS ADHD-risk subsample improved in the medium range for both home-setting symptoms and social functioning — related