RESEARCH & EVALUATION
Due to the strength of evidence base, Rock and Water is included in the UK's Early Intervention Foundation Guidebook . A rating of 2+ was achieved with studies conducted within primary and secondary education being reviewed.
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Rock and Water has been delivered in an extensive range of settings and environments to support the social and emotional development of children, young people and adults. Evaluations at the bottom of this page include:
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Primary education
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Secondary education
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Residential care setting
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Project for newly arrived young people
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Support of adolescent males with aggressive behaviours
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Researchers examined the changes in social safety (bullying and being bullied), feelings of competence (self-regulation, global self-esteem, and social acceptance effectiveness), and depressive feelings.
The Trimbos Institute's findings into the positive impact the Rock and Water program can have on young men's attitudes and behaviours regarding sexual behaviour and aggression.
Psychologists Ivan Raymond and Carole Simpson conducted an evaluation of the Rock and Water program for young people living in the congregate care system of South Australia.
Though Rock and Water is not included in this intervention analysis as the majority were US based programmes, this summary explains the positive and long lasting effects of school-based SEL interventions assessed six months to 18 years after their completion.
A whole school approach to the Rock and Water program was conducted by Connected Self for Newly Arrived Young People who were students of Elizabeth Vale Primary School. The evaluation reviews the program, summarises the qualitative evaluation and provides recommendations for future programming. The evaluation has had contributions from Tim Brenton (program facilitator), Andrew Cenuich (program reviewer) and Ivan Raymond (psychologist).
The Rock and Water Program (RWP) was used as a means of contacting 187 rural adolescent males from four schools on the north coast of New South Wales Australia in order to explore their views relating to anger and aggression as well as their perception of the RWP.