Choice theory: Does it really work? The PEAK Program and its effects on at-risk students' performance in school.

摘要

This study was designed to investigate whether at-risk students who have completed an alternative program designed around William Glasser's Choice Theory principles and axioms are successful when they return to their original schools.; This study had two parts. Each part had a different set of participants: (1) 99 students who attended PEAK during the 2003--04 academic year. Data on their performance before coming to PEAK were compared to their performance at PEAK. (2) 29 students who completed the PEAK program and returned to their original school for at least one semester.; Different quantitative measures such as descriptive statistics, t-tests and ANCOVA's were used to examine and compare students' performance before attending the alternative program and at the program. In addition, the study followed the students for one semester at their original schools after completing the alternative program. The students' performance was examined and compared to their performance before attending the alternative program.; The study showed that the students perform better while attending PEAK regardless of completing the program successfully or not. Also, the students who completed the program successfully were most likely to stay in school and not to drop out of school. In addition, their suspension records and their grades showed significant improvement compared to their suspensions and grades before attending the alternative program.