Effects of an Orientation Program on Mobile Transfer Students

Abstract

A group orientation program was designed and carried out to aid the adjustment of mobile seventh and eighth grade transfer students to their new schools. Students in the treatment program were compared to others in both placebo and no-treatment control conditions on various measures of school and emotional adjustment. The measures included state measures of anxiety, depression, and hostility; a problem checklist; and orientation and attitude questionnaires. Adjustment data were collected at the beginning and end of the treatment program. It was found that transfer students in the orientation-treatment program were less anxious, depressed and hostile, reported fewer school and personal problems, had more positive attitudes towards school, and were better oriented at the end of the treatment program than transfer students in the control conditions.