Effects of Creative Drama on Self-Concept, Social Skills, and Problem Behavior

Abstract The authors examined the effects of creative drama activities on self-concept, problem behavior, and social skills. A sample of 237 students from Grades 3 and 4 were selected randomly to participate in the study and assigned randomly to groups. A Solomon 4-group design was used. Students in the treatment group participated in creative drama activities 1 day a week for 18 weeks. The authors analyzed data using a 2 × 2 factorial analysis of variance. Significant treatment effects were not found for any of the dependent variables. Results did not differ by gender. The main and interactive effects of pretesting were negligible. The specific variables to be measured and the potential for skewed distributions on pretest measures are factors to be considered in studies with creative drama as the treatment.