Manuscript Details

Boyd, A. (1997). Parents as first teachers pilot project evaluation (PAFT) : Report on Whangarei region: Final complete draft. Wellington: Ministry of Education.

Moderate rating
Study reviewed under: Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Study design characteristics contributing to rating
Design Attrition Baseline equivalence Confounding factors? Valid, reliable measures?
Randomized controlled trial Low

Not established on race/ethnicity, SES, or outcomes

None

Not assessed in manuscripts reviewed under Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Notes from the review of this manuscript

In order to receive a high rating, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with low attrition must control for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and, if applicable, baseline outcomes if statistically significant differences exist between treatment and control groups. In this case, we had insufficient information to assess baseline equivalence on race/ethnicity, SES, or outcomes in order to determine if there were statistically significant differences for which the authors should have controlled in analyses.

This study received a mixed rating. Four outcomes have low attrition and receive a moderate rating (positive child behaviors - problem solving task, total; positive caregiver behaviors - imaginative play episode, responding to child; positive child behaviors - imaginative play episode, attending to help; positive child behaviors - imaginative play episode, using information). All other outcomes have high attrition and baseline equivalence is not established on race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), or any outcomes. These outcomes rate low (low-rated outcomes are not reported).

Child Development and School Readiness
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Positive child behaviors - imaginative play episode, attending to help 3 years Moderate
0.13 Not statistically significant, p = 0.41 163 mothers Whangarei
Positive child behaviors - imaginative play episode, using information 3 years Moderate
0.09 Not statistically significant, p = 0.58 163 mothers Whangarei
Positive child behaviors - problem solving task, total 3 years Moderate
0.11 Not statistically significant, p = 0.52 129 mothers Whangarei
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Positive Parenting Practices
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Positive caregiver behaviors - imaginative play episode, responding to child 3 years Moderate
0.19 Not statistically significant, p = 0.25 143 mothers Whangarei
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant

This study included participants with the following characteristics at enrollment:

Race/Ethnicity

Data not available

Maternal Education

Data not available

Other Characteristics

Enrollment in means-tested programs
36%

This study included participants from the following locations:

  • State not reported or international
International Locations
New Zealand
Study Participants

The Parents as First Teachers (PAFT) pilot project was initiated in 1992–1993 in four areas of New Zealand: Whangarei, South Auckland, Gisbome, and Dunedin. This study reports on the Whangarei region. The PAFT pilot project aimed to provide first-time parents in each of the four geographical areas with a variety of services, from the birth of their first child until the child was 3 years of age. Participants were randomly assigned to the program or comparison group; 101 program families and 89 comparison families took part in the evaluation.

Setting

This study took place in the Whangarei region of New Zealand.

Comparison Conditions

Comparison group families had annual contact with program staff, via mailings, to maintain contact and update addresses.

Author Affiliation

None of the study authors is a developer of this model.

Funding Sources

New Zealand Ministry of Education