ABSTRACT
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) arguably provide the most reliable evidence for the effectiveness of coaching. 'Goal attainment' is a natural outcome measure for any coaching intervention. Schools will also be interested in other variables such as commitment, resilience and perceived self-efficacy. In order to measure these things schools will need a suitable psychometric instrument, e.g. a tried-and-tested 'Academic self-efficacy scale'. Without a control group, it can be difficult to attribute improvements to coaching. To ensure that all students eventually receive coaching, a school can use a waiting list control group. In the pre-test post-test control group design the school randomly selects a sample of students and then randomly assigns those students to either the coaching or control group. All students complete a pre-test before the programme begins and a post-test when the programme ends. Only the students in the coaching group are given coaching. In all other respects, the two groups are treated identically.
