Is Your SEL Assessment Scientifically Peer-Reviewed? It Should Be.

We all know the saying, “two heads are better than one.” But when it comes to research, many heads are better than just one or two.

Peer review is an important part of the research process because it helps motivate researchers to conduct high-quality studies. It also improves research and promotes high research standards and originality. The best research utilizes peer review as a means of strengthening the research.

Is your social and emotional learning (SEL) assessment backed by peer-reviewed research?

Why Peer Review Matters

Peer review is important because it tells you if your SEL assessment is based on research and if it was developed using rigorous research standards. It can also tell you if the tool was designed around equitable best practices.

Another benefit of peer review is that it ensures you are collecting accurate data. You need reliable information on your students’ needs so you can identify and focus on the correct SEL skills and maximize instructional impacts. Having accurate data will also give you the insight needed to streamline instruction, tailor supports to achieve predefined learning goals, and effectively measure outcomes.

The Most Frequently Cited SEL Assessment

Not all SEL assessments are backed by peer-reviewed research. Some do not meet rigorous research standards, and some are less formal surveys.

However, The DESSA is a nationally recognized and award-winning assessment that has been extensively peer-reviewed. In fact, it is the most frequently cited SEL assessment and has been the subject of more than 130 peer-reviewed articles.

The research behind the DESSA is rigorous and follows equitable best research practices. It has shown to be very reliable in accurately measuring social-emotional skills, and it is grounded in resilience theory. Schools and districts across the country recognize the quality of research behind the DESSA and trust the tool to measure students’ and educators’ social-emotional strengths and needs.

Before selecting an SEL measurement tool, make sure it is backed by peer-reviewed research. The assessment should be well-researched, evidence-based, and aligned to SEL best practices and the goals of SEL instruction. This will ensure your data is accurate and that you are equipped with the information needed to improve student outcomes.

Interested in learning more about the DESSA and how it can complement your SEL program? Contact our SEL advisors to learn more about the comprehensive research behind the entire suite of DESSA assessments.