Title |
A Program for At-Risk High School Students Informed by Evolutionary Science
|
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Published in |
PLOS ONE, November 2011
|
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0027826 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
David Sloan Wilson, Richard A. Kauffman, Miriam S. Purdy |
Abstract |
Improving the academic performance of at-risk high school students has proven difficult, often calling for an extended day, extended school year, and other expensive measures. Here we report the results of a program for at-risk 9th and 10th graders in Binghamton, New York, called the Regents Academy that takes place during the normal school day and year. The design of the program is informed by the evolutionary dynamics of cooperation and learning, in general and for our species as a unique product of biocultural evolution. Not only did the Regents Academy students outperform their comparison group in a randomized control design, but they performed on a par with the average high school student in Binghamton on state-mandated exams. All students can benefit from the social environment provided for at-risk students at the Regents Academy, which is within the reach of most public school districts. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 3 | 30% |
Romania | 1 | 10% |
Canada | 1 | 10% |
Brazil | 1 | 10% |
Zimbabwe | 1 | 10% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 10% |
Unknown | 2 | 20% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 7 | 70% |
Scientists | 1 | 10% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 10% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 10% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 4 | 3% |
United Kingdom | 2 | 2% |
Bulgaria | 1 | <1% |
Italy | 1 | <1% |
Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Romania | 1 | <1% |
Iran, Islamic Republic of | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 105 | 91% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 20 | 17% |
Researcher | 18 | 16% |
Student > Master | 11 | 9% |
Student > Bachelor | 9 | 8% |
Professor | 8 | 7% |
Other | 33 | 28% |
Unknown | 17 | 15% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 32 | 28% |
Social Sciences | 20 | 17% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 12 | 10% |
Computer Science | 5 | 4% |
Environmental Science | 5 | 4% |
Other | 17 | 15% |
Unknown | 25 | 22% |