EVERFI Research Center | Supports positive learning outcomes
See how and why EVERFI supports positive learning outcomes for all students.
EVERFI Approach
Develop with Experts
We work with external and in-house subject-matter experts to build learning experiences that deliver quality content to address the missing learning layer.
Driven by Data
We use pre- and post-learning assessments and surveys to drive insights into how our content influences learner knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
Actively Evaluate Effectiveness
We develop research-based products and services and work continuously to verify their efficacy across educational settings to support deep and sustained learning.
Iterate and Improve
We use course data, learner surveys, and feedback from teachers to guide iterative improvements to our content and learning platform.
Efficacy and Outcomes Research
Preventing Adolescent Prescription Drug Abuse and Misuse
EVERFI released the findings from a new study evaluating the efficacy of its high school Prescription Drug Safety curriculum. The digital curriculum showed a positive and lasting impact on knowledge, behavioral intent and attitudes as they relate to prescription drug use. The study affirms signs of continued impact on students more than 30 days following course completion and can be found in the online and print versions of the peer-reviewed journal Child and Youth Care Forum.
Observational Study of WORD Force
The interactive, digital learning program WORD Force is designed to improve early literacy skills for young children. During the 2021-2022 school year, EVERFI conducted an extensive observational research study to determine the impact of WORD Force on young children by collecting data from teachers and parents of early readers as they engaged with the course. Results on the impact of the program were encouraging and will be used as the basis for an efficacy study in the future.
Longitudinal Study of Financial Capability among Adolescents
During the 2021-2022 school year, the MassMutual Foundation and EVERFI launched data collection for a longitudinal study in order to examine the impact of a suite of digital learning courses on adolescent financial capability. In the first year of this unprecedented study, researchers found unique and additive impacts of the FutureSmart and EVERFI courses on the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of young learners compared to a control group.
Effective Adolescent Anti-Bullying Program
Bullying in adolescence is common and can have serious, long-term consequences on academic performance, and physical and mental wellness. This study found promising evidence (ESSA Tier 3) that Honor Code supported positive changes in knowledge of bullying prevention concepts and attitudes needed to cultivate a positive school environment.
Impact of Futuresmart Online Financial Education Course on Financial Knowledge of Middle School Students
2021
The increasing role of schools in promoting financial literacy underscores the need to investigate the effectiveness of school-based financial education programs. This study examined FutureSmart—a free, co-curricular, online financial education course—using a quasi-experimental design with a diverse sample of middle school students nationwide. The fundamental implication of this research is that FutureSmart effectively conveys financial knowledge to middle school students, contributing to a foundation for their future financial well-being.
Addressing the Digital Wellness and Safety of 8th Graders
Students in Middle School are incredibly susceptible to cyber-bullying, violations of their privacy, and social comparison. This study was designed to meet ESSA Tier 3 - Promising Evidence requirements and examined how Ignition (a digital wellness and safety course) impacted the attitudes and knowledge students need to mitigate the risks they face in digital spaces.
The "Why" Behind EVERFI Efficacy
EVERFI’s extensive K-12 content and interactive learning experiences readily fulfill the rigorous criteria set forth by ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) federal requirements for Tier 4 evidence of efficacy.1 Our product is forged upon research-backed theory of action statements and a well-defined logic model. Logic models are visual representations of an education product’s key features that are informed by research and indicate how the product is likely to improve relevant outcomes. EVERFI partnered with Empirical Education to document the learning science and research behind the design of our product, and earned the Research-Based Learning Product Design Certification from Digital Promise.
Goals:
- To provide K-12 educators and students with free digital content on topics not sufficiently addressed by curriculums. *
- To create interactive and accessible content aligned to standards that is grounded in real-world contexts, and easily integrated into instruction to support learner critical-life skill development. **
Initial product development, and subsequent iteration, are driven by these resources. They provide a clear rationale for why our content and design decisions are expected to positively impact students beyond just learning. Our work does not stop there. The EVERFI research team includes Ph.D. trained researchers dedicated to continuously evaluating the impact and efficacy of our products both internally and through partnerships with independent research organizations. We leverage qualitative and quantitative data to assess implementation and impact to inform product development and improvements. For the educators that use EVERFI courses and the organizations that support them, the logic model summarizes why they are effective, what the indicators of success look like, and what improvements can be made moving forward to enhance effectiveness.
EVERFI is committed to current and future rigorous impact and efficacy evaluations of our products beyond the logic model to ensure we continue to provide content and learning experiences that deliver meaningful impact.
1US Department of Education. (2016). Non-regulatory guidance: Using evidence to strengthen education investments. Retrieved from https://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/essa/guidanceuseseinvestment.pdf
*EVERFI offers digital content covering the following topic areas: Financial Education, Career Readiness, Health & Wellness, Social Emotional Learning, Cultural Literacy, Digital Literacy & Wellness, STEM, Academic Readiness, Sustainability Education
**Critical life skills include: self-efficacy, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making, problem solving, critical thinking, effective communication, reflection, goal-setting, information-seeking, help-seeking, perspective-taking
Insights & Analysis
Archived Research
- Effects of AlcoholEdu for College on Alcohol-Related Problems Among Freshmen: A Randomized Multicampus Trial. Read Now
- Population-Level Administration of AlcoholEdu for College: An ARIMA Time-Series Analysis. Read Now
- Exploring the Potential Campus-Level Impact of Online Universal Sexual Assault Prevention Education. Read Now
- Evaluating a Health Education Web Site: The Case of AlcoholEdu. Read Now
- Web-Based Alcohol Prevention for Incoming College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Read Now
- Reductions in Drinking and Alcohol-Related Harms Reported by First-Year College Students Taking an Online Alcohol Education Course: A Randomized Trial. Read Now
Reach Out to Learn More
Want to learn more about our research methods or want to collaborate on a research study? Submit the form and someone will reach out as soon as possible.