The Evaluation of a School Climate Videogame Intervention

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
A randomized control trial of a videogame intervention to assess and improve school climate.

Detailed Description
-----------------
To assess the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a videogame intervention designed to teach teens the skills in restructuring thoughts and then empowering them to take action and improve their school climate. For this project, the play2PREVENT Lab aims to assess the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a videogame intervention designed to teach teens the skills in restructuring thoughts and then empowering them to take action and improve their school climate. Program and school staff will enroll participants between the ages of 14-19 years old to play our videogame during their after school programs. Before and after gameplay, participants will answer assessment questions related to self-efficacy, cognitive reappraisal, and dimensions of school climate. Questions will also assess participants' feedback on the videogame. Students not randomly assigned to the videogame intervention will only respond to assessment questions. The data will be transmitted electronically via Qualtrics data collection platform to the Lab for further analysis.

Official Title
-----------------
The Evaluation of a School Climate Videogame Intervention

Conditions
-----------------
Cognitive Reappraisal, Self Efficacy

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Device: videogame
* Behavioral: School Climate Assessment Survey


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Must be a current high school student English-speaking Willing to provide minor assent Willing to provide parental consent (if under 18 years old) Willing to play/use the game/tool for about 45 minutes to 1 hour after school Willing to answer questions about their experiences in playing the game, questions around school climate, and questions around self-efficacy on an iPad for about 30 minutes Willing to participate in an optional focus group for about 30 minutes Exclusion Criteria: Those that do not meet the criteria above

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 14 Years
Maximum Age: 19 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Students playing videogame<br>The experimental group will consist of our videogame intervention including the five mini-games. | Device: videogame<br>* A videogame intervention that is interactive and engaging that teaches adolescents how to restructure negative automatic thoughts through an adapted thought record (a technique used in cognitive behavioral therapy to improve moods) by modeling how to do so and then empower them through real-life activities to improve their school climate. The videogame intervention is comprised of five mini-games, each containing a short narrative that models how to restructure negative automatic thoughts and navigate through challenging situations that often take place in school settings. The topics of each mini-game are informed by the constructs of school climate according to the National School Climate Center. Students using the videogame intervention will be prompted to think deeply and reflect on the narratives presented in each mini-game.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Students receiving school climate assessment<br>The control group differs from the experimental group as it includes the school climate assessment tool but excludes the mini-games | Behavioral: School Climate Assessment Survey<br>* A school climate assessment survey will include items adapted from questions developed by the National School Climate Center. Items will assess various dimensions of school climate including safety, social media, relationships, support for learning, and environment.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Measuring self-efficacy at baseline | Participants will complete a pre-survey through a secured, data collection website (Qualtrics), before playing the videogame. Items from the general self-efficacy questionnaire will assess participants' self-efficacy at baseline. This scale uses a 5-point Likert response scale (1=Never, 2=Almost Never, 3=Sometimes, 4=Fairly Often, 5=Very Often). Total self-efficacy score ranges from 10-50. | baseline | 
| Change in self-efficacy from baseline | Participants will complete a post-survey through a secured, data collection website (Qualtrics), immediately after playing the videogame. Items from the general self-efficacy questionnaire will assess participants' self-efficacy at baseline. This scale uses a 5-point Likert response scale (1=Never, 2=Almost Never, 3=Sometimes, 4=Fairly Often, 5=Very Often). Total self-efficacy score ranges from 10-50. | immediately after playing the videogame | 
| Measuring emotional self-efficacy at baseline | Participants will complete a pre-survey through a secured, data collection website (Qualtrics), at baseline. Items from the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C) will assess participants' emotional self-efficacy immediately before playing the game. Each of the 6 items used in the study has to be scored on a 5-point scale with 1 = not at all and 5 = very well. | baseline | 
| Change in emotional self-efficacy from baseline | Participants will complete a post-survey through a secured, data collection website (Qualtrics), at baseline. Items from the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C) will assess participants' emotional self-efficacy immediately after playing the game. Each of the 6 items used in the study has to be scored on a 5-point scale with 1 = not at all and 5 = very well. | immediately after playing the videogame | 
| Cognitive reappraisal scores at baseline | Participants will complete a pre-survey through a secured, data collection website (Qualtrics), at baseline. The ERQ-CA includes 6 items assessing participants' cognitive appraisal. The scale length ranges up to five points with the following options: 1) strongly disagree; 2) disagree, 3) half and half, 4) agree, 5) strongly agree. The range of scores for each scale was 6 to 30. | at baseline | 
| Cognitive reappraisal scores at baseline | Participants will complete a post-survey through a secured, data collection website (Qualtrics), immediately after playing the videogame. Items from the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (ERQ-CA) will assess participants' cognitive reappraisal immediately after playing the tool/game. The ERQ-CA includes 6 items assessing participants' cognitive appraisal. The scale length ranges up to five points with the following options: 1) strongly disagree; 2) disagree, 3) half and half, 4) agree, 5) strongly agree. The range of scores for each scale was 6 to 30. | immediately after playing the videogame | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gameplay post-assessment | Participants will complete a post-survey through a secured, data collection website (Qualtrics), immediately after playing the game. Twelve items will assess intervention experience and satisfaction from items designed by members of the study team (e.g., How likely do you think completing any of the activities will help you improve how you feel about yourself, others, or social situations? Response options include very likely, likely, might or might not, unlikely, very unlikely.) These questions are not part of a larger scale. | immediately after playing the game | 
| School Climate | Participants will complete a pre-survey through a secured, data collection website (Qualtrics), immediately before playing the videogame. Items from the National School Climate Center will be adapted and used to assess dimensions of participants' school climate, including safety, support for learning, environment, social media, and relationships. Response options include yes, no, not applicable. These questions are not part of a larger scale. | Baseline |