Designing Social-Psychological Interventions for Positive School and Classroom Climates

Description

This module examines how targeted, theory-driven psychological interventions can be used to create more inclusive, equitable, and emotionally supportive school environments. Drawing on research from educational and social psychology, the course focuses on strategically designed interventions that reshape students’ beliefs, perceptions, emotions, and social relationships in ways that lead to lasting change. The module begins by establishing foundational principles of social-psychological intervention, emphasising the importance of psychological precision, ecological fit, cultural responsiveness, and timing. Students explore why such interventions are often effective despite being low-cost and "light-touch," and how they differ from traditional pedagogical or behavioural strategies. Using case studies of internationally recognised programmes-such as the Finnish KiVa antibullying programme-students critically analyse real-world applications, including their theoretical underpinnings, design choices, and contextual limitations. Emphasis is placed on how social norms, identity, peer dynamics, and teacher-student relationships can be intentionally shaped to promote safety, inclusion, and engagement across diverse school settings. Students will leave this module with a practical and conceptual toolkit for designing, evaluating, and adapting interventions that support positive classroom and school climates.