| 1. |
- Eninger, Lilianne, et al.
(author)
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A Cluster Randomized Trial of Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS®) With Swedish Preschool Children
- 2021
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In: Frontiers in Psychology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-1078. ; 12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The preschool edition of Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies (PATHS(R)) is a school-based, teacher implemented universal intervention developed in the United States designed to promote social emotional competence (SEC) in children as a foundation for improved mental health. PATHS is delivered as a curriculum and it is based on theories and research regarding SEC, brain development, and optimal school environments. A majority of children in Sweden attend preschool, which is government-subsidized and follows a national curriculum focusing on both academic and social emotional learning. However, there is not so much focus on formal instruction nor manual-based lessons. The purpose of this study was to assess the short-term (pre- to post-test) effects of PATHS in the Swedish preschool setting. Using a two-wave cluster randomized trial with multi-method and informant assessment (N = 285 4 and 5-year-old Swedish children; n = 145 wait-list control; n = 140 intervention; K = 26 preschools; k = 13 intervention; k = 13 control) we assessed changes in child emotional knowledge, emotional awareness, social problem solving, prosocial play, inhibitory control, and working memory using structural equation modeling (SEM). We included schools with at least one classroom of 4-5-year-old children from three municipalities. We excluded open preschools, parent cooperative preschools, and family day homes. After random assignment, schools were informed of condition assignment. Research team members were not blind to assignment. We hypothesized that relative to children in control schools, children in intervention schools would evidence improvements in social emotional competence as well as other outcomes. Children in PATHS, relative to children in the control, evidenced improvements in working memory and prosocial play, but also showed an increase in hyperactive behaviors. Girls in PATHS, relative to girls in the control, showed improvement in emotional knowledge and reduced anxiety. These results are considered in light of efforts to promote positive development and mental health.
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| 3. |
- Ferrer Wreder, Laura, et al.
(author)
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Childcare, Culture, and Child Development : A Swedish Perspective
- 2020
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In: The Oxford Handbook of Moral Development. - Oxford : Oxford University Press. - 9780190676049
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This chapter concerns theory and research relevant to child development and early childhood education and care (ECEC), which is a key ecology for human development. In this chapter, the authors provide an overview of the organizational features and processes important to understanding these settings. The authors then focus on describing the Nordic welfare model as it relates to ECEC settings, with an exploration of how certain ethics are reflected in the design, goals, and practice of ECEC settings in Sweden. The chapter then moves to summarizing and reflecting on the empirical research literature on how Swedish ECEC settings may support aspects of children’s moral development; finally, the authors pose several questions that may prove important to advancing future research in this area.
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| 6. |
- Ferrer-Wreder, Laura, et al.
(author)
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The Cultural Adaptation of Interventions to Promote Positive Development : The Preschool Edition of PATHS® in Sweden
- 2021
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In: Handbook of Positive Youth Development. - Cham : Springer. - 9783030702618 - 9783030702625 ; , s. 399-413
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This chapter is a commentary regarding advances in the intervention cultural adaptation research literature, particularly as it concerns positive development (PD) interventions. An overview of research on PD interventions is provided. Thereafter, the chapter focuses on the implementation of PD interventions cross-nationally, highlighting the importance of cultural adaptation in this process. The Planned Intervention Adaptation (PIA) protocol is used along with a case study, as an illustration of steps that can be taken in the cultural adaptation of interventions and to highlight issues that can be at stake when culturally adapting PD interventions. The case is an overview of the cultural adaptation of the preschool edition of PATHS®. PATHS® is an American (U.S.) developed, school-based teacher implemented intervention designed to support young children’s social emotional competence and to change schools’ climate in ways that foster social emotional learning. Social emotional competence is an important expression of PD. This chapter provides an overview of how specific aspects of culture and context were considered in a PATHS® effectiveness trial. This chapter concludes with a summary of lessons learned from this case and the need to culturally recast some concepts in the process of translation, as well as a consideration of promising approaches to advance the development, impact, and spread of adaptable culturally relevant PD interventions.
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| 7. |
- Fohlin, Lisa, 1987-, et al.
(author)
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Barriers and facilitators expressed by teachers implementing theme-based and cooperative learning in a Swedish kindergarten
- 2020
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In Sweden, the decentralisation of the educational system has led to a difference in educational quality among schools. The curriculum for early childhood education (ECE) in Sweden states that education should build on relevant research. In order to implement research-based practices in the ECE setting, it is relevant to take account of teachers’ impressions on the implementation of such processes. Their experiences may affect their willingness to use the practices.The overall aim of the wider study is to identify facilitators and barriers in the implementation of innovative pedagogical methods in ECE. In particular, the aim of the study presented here is to identify facilitators and barriers expressed by kindergarten teachers before, during and after the implementation process of a pedagogical program, based on the framework of cooperative learning. The aim is also to investigate whether the implementation had an influence on the educational practice, according to the teachers. The study is an independent evaluation of a program implementation introduced in a school during spring 2019. The project uses the Theoretical domains framework (TDF) as a theoretical framework in the data analysis (Atkins et al., 2017) and the conceptual framework from Domitrovich et al. (2008) to describe the impact of facilitators and barriers in the implementation.The teacher team (N=6) working in two kindergarten classes adopted a school development program that introduced theme-based pedagogy and cooperative learning. The aim of the program was to increase the general well-being of the children and to create a more democratic and multifaceted social environment in the classrooms. The teachers received training and feedback consisting of six sessions over six months.Three group interviews with the teachers were conducted by the first author, who was not involved in the training. The interviews occurred at start, in the middle, and at the end of the implementation process. The preliminary analysis found barriers and facilitators for successful implementation and ongoing work with the programs, for example resources, support, motivation and knowledge. There seemed to be an increase in the number of facilitators over time and an increase of positive emotions and opinions about the use of the pedagogical program over time. The teachers reported some changes in the pedagogical practice.This study is part of first author’s PhD thesis in the Research School in Special Education on Early Interventions in Early Childhood Education (Swedish Research Council 2017-03683).
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| 8. |
- Fohlin, Lisa, 1987-, et al.
(author)
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Factors to consider when performing implementation of innovations in Nordic school settings – a comparative evaluation of two implementation projects
- 2022
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the research is to investigate teachers’ experiences of implementation processes during the introduction of organizational change or school intervention programs. In this study, the aim is to compare the findings of two studies investigating expressed barriers and facilitators by school staff in two distinct implementation projects in Swedish school settings. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF; Atkins et al., 2017) is applied as a theoretical guide. The first study covers a six-month implementation project of a new didactic practice (theme-based cooperative learning, CL) in two kindergarten classrooms at one Swedish school. The kindergarten teachers (N=6) were interviewed in three group interviews; before, during, and after the implementation of the project. Using thematic analysis, barriers and facilitators were identified throughout the project (Fohlin et al., 2021). The second study examines a research project of a framework aimed at positive school climate and reducing negative behaviors (IBIS, Nylén et al., 2021). School staff (N=127) from 11 schools (kindergarten to grade nine) who participated in the project responded to the survey Determinants of Implementation Behavior Questionnaire in School settings (DIBQs), a 91 items questionnaire that investigated teachers’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators in working with the program. The questionnaire was statistically evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis for model fit, as well as evaluated for descriptive statistics presenting potential barriers and facilitators.The results showed that these implementation projects seemed to have similarities, with overall positive expressions towards the implementation process. Facilitators expressed in both studies include increased collegial support when engaged in the project and the projects having a contextual fit. Factors posing as potential barriers for both studies were issues with time and the skill of performing an adaptation of the project content at instances of lack of time, unmotivated students, or lacking collegial support. Some differences could be related to the project contents, as the two projects targeted different issues. For example, school staff in IBIS reported weak positive feedback from students and colleagues whereas the CL group reported strong positive feedback from students, colleagues, and parents.This study highlights factors to consider when performing implementations in Swedish school settings. It presents the use of TDF as a guide in both qualitative and quantitative educational implementations, an innovative approach in the Nordic setting.ReferencesAtkins, L., Francis, J., Islam, R., O’Connor, D., Patey, A., Ivers, N., Foy, R., Duncan, E. M., Colquhoun, H., Grimshaw, J. M., Lawton, R., & Michie, S. (2017). A guide to using the Theoretical Domains Framework of behaviour change to investigate implementation problems. Implementation Science, 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-017-0605-9Fohlin, L., Sedem, M., & Allodi, M. W. (2021). Teachers’ experiences of facilitators and barriers to implement theme-based cooperative learning in a Swedish context. Frontiers in Education, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.663846Nylén, K., Karlberg, M., Klang, N., & Ogden, T. (2021). Knowledge and Will: An Explorative Study on the Implementation of School-Wide Positive Behavior Support in Sweden. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(618099). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.618099
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| 9. |
- Fohlin, Lisa, 1987-, et al.
(author)
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School staff’s perceptions of implementing the Inclusive Behavioral Support in Schools framework in Swedish schools
- 2023
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. - 0031-3831 .- 1470-1170.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Determinants of Implementation Behavior Questionnaire for school settings (DIBQ-S) was administered to examine questionnaire internal structure evidence and ascertain 127 Swedish school staff’s perceived barriers to and facilitators of implementing the Inclusive Behavioral Support in Schools program. Using confirmatory factor analysis, we tested a 3-factor model (capability, opportunity, motivation) corresponding to the Theoretical Domain Framework and the COM-B system. Measurement of motivation was suboptimal, but a 2-factor model exclusively retaining capability and opportunity had fair fit. The questionnaire showed overall fair internal structure evidence. Facilitators related primarily to motivation, whereas potential barriers related to capability, opportunity, and motivation. Teachers working in early school years perceived higher opportunity and capability than teachers working in later school years. School staff in the implementation team perceived higher opportunity than other school staff. The DIBQ-S could support school implementations by ensuring that the process feels coherent, manageable, and meaningful for frontline implementers.
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| 10. |
- Fohlin, Lisa, et al.
(author)
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Teachers’ Experiences of Facilitators and Barriers to Implement Theme-Based Cooperative Learning in a Swedish Context
- 2021
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In: Frontiers in Education. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2504-284X. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Implementing Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in school settings can be challenging. This case study presents barriers and facilitators expressed by kindergarten teachers (N = 6) during the implementation of a theme-based cooperative learning project over the course of a semester. During three group interviews, at the start, mid-point, and end, the teachers expressed their thoughts and experiences about the project. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was used to identify and analyze barriers and facilitators throughout the project. The importance of organizational investment, collegial connection and collaboration, the pedagogical fit of the EBP, and plans for long-term change were highlighted as beneficial factors for successful implementation in this case study.
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