Protocol summary

Study aim
To determine the effectiveness of positive thinking training on resilience, academic engagement, and classroom silence among fifth-grade male students in Ramshir.
Design
A randomized, parallel-group, quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test control-group design, involving 40 elementary school students. Participants will be allocated to experimental and control groups using permuted block randomization with variable block sizes of 4 and 6 in a 1:1 ratio.
Settings and conduct
The study will be conducted in elementary schools in Ramshir, Iran, among fifth-grade male students. Forty eligible students will be selected using cluster random sampling and assigned to experimental and control groups (n=20 each). The experimental group will receive eight weekly 45-minute sessions of positive thinking training based on the Rashid (2009) protocol, while the control group will receive no intervention. Pre-test and post-test assessments will be conducted in both groups. No blinding will be applied in this study.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Male fifth-grade students aged 10–12 years with low academic engagement and low resilience based on established cut-off scores, no concurrent psychological or positive thinking intervention, and written parental consent and student assent.
Intervention groups
Experimental group: The intervention group will receive eight weekly 45-minute sessions of structured positive thinking training based on the Rashid (2009) protocol, covering positive emotions, personal strengths, pleasure, commitment, forgiveness, gratitude, meaning, and practical exercises. Control group: Participants will receive no intervention during the study period and will complete the same assessments as the experimental group.
Main outcome variables
Resilience, Academic Engagement, Classroom Silence

General information

Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number: IRCT20251129068145N8
Registration date: 2026-10-15, 1405/07/23
Registration timing: prospective

Last update: 2026-10-15, 1405/07/23
Update count: 0
Registration date
2026-10-15, 1405/07/23
Registrant information
Name
Mohammadreza Gorji Azghandi
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 51 3872 0567
Email address
gorji@article-lab.com
Recruitment status
recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-10-23, 1405/08/01
Expected recruitment end date
2026-12-21, 1405/09/30
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The effect of positive thinking training on resilience, academic enthusiasm, and classroom silence of fifth-grade male elementary school students in Ramshir city in 1405
Public title
The effect of positive thinking training on resilience, academic enthusiasm, and classroom silence of fifth-grade male elementary school students in Ramshir city in 1405
Purpose
Supportive
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Male fifth-grade elementary school students in Ramshir County, aged 10–12 years. Low academic engagement, defined as a score at or below the cut-off point on the Academic Engagement Questionnaire by Fredericks et al. (2004). Low resilience, defined as a score at or below the cut-off point on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). No history of receiving concurrent psychological or educational interventions, including previous positive thinking training. Written informed consent from parents and assent from the students.
Exclusion criteria:
Age
From 10 years old to 12 years old
Gender
Male
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
  • Outcome assessor
Sample size
Target sample size: 40
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Male fifth-grade elementary school students in Ramshir will be selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Following eligibility assessment and baseline measurements, eligible participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the experimental and control groups using permuted block randomization with variable block sizes of 4 and 6. Allocation concealment will be maintained using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes (SNOSE). The outcome assessor will remain blinded to participants’ group assignments.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Single blinded
Blinding description
The study will be single-blinded. Due to the nature of the educational intervention, participants and the intervention provider cannot be blinded to group allocation. However, the outcome assessor will remain blinded to participants’ group assignments.
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features

Secondary Ids

empty

Ethics committees

1

Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Research Ethics Committees of Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Street address
Islamic Azad University-Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway, Ahvaz.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹۳۷۳۳۳
Approval date
2026-09-22, 1405/06/31
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1405.540

Health conditions studied

1

Description of health condition studied
Educational and psychosocial factors in school-aged children
ICD-10 code
Z55.9
ICD-10 code description
Problems related to education and literacy, unspecified

Primary outcomes

1

Description
Resilience
Timepoint
Resilience will be assessed at two time points: baseline (pre-test), before initiation of the intervention, and immediately after completion of the eight-session intervention (post-test).
Method of measurement
Resilience will be assessed using the 25-item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 25 to 125; higher scores indicate greater resilience.

2

Description
Academic engagement
Timepoint
Academic engagement will be assessed at two time points: baseline (pre-test), before initiation of the intervention, and immediately after completion of the eight-session intervention (post-test).
Method of measurement
Academic engagement will be assessed using the 15-item Academic Engagement Questionnaire developed by Fredericks et al. (2004), covering behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater academic engagement.

3

Description
Classroom silence
Timepoint
Classroom silence will be assessed at two time points: baseline (pre-test), before initiation of the intervention, and immediately after completion of the eight-session intervention (post-test).
Method of measurement
Classroom silence will be assessed using the 14-item Classroom Silence Questionnaire developed by Behnamfard et al. (2020). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating a greater level of classroom silence.

Secondary outcomes

empty

Intervention groups

1

Description
Intervention group: The experimental group will consist of 20 fifth-grade male students. Participants will receive a structured positive thinking training program based on the Rashid (2009) protocol. The intervention will be delivered in eight weekly sessions, with each session lasting 45 minutes, in a school-based workshop format. The sessions will focus on positive emotions, identification and development of personal strengths, pleasure, commitment, forgiveness, gratitude, review of learned skills, and meaning. Assignments and practical exercises will be provided as appropriate throughout the intervention.
Category
Behavior

2

Description
Control group: The control group will consist of 20 fifth-grade male students and will receive no intervention during the study period. Participants in both groups will undergo the same assessment procedures at the specified time points.
Category
Behavior

Recruitment centers

1

Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
The School of Velayat-e Faqih
Full name of responsible person
Gholam Asakereh
Street address
Velayat-e Faqih School, Shahid Awn Khaledi Street, Mashrageh, Ramshir County
City
Ramshir
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۳۸۷۱۸۶۱۴۴
Phone
+98 916 894 1042
Email
velayat1405@gmail.com

Sponsors / Funding sources

1

Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Aslan Agdernejad
Street address
Industry and Community Relations Office, 2nd Floor, Office Building, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhangshahr, Golestan Highway, Ahvaz, Iran.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 61 3334 8361
Email
info@iauahvaz.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic

Person responsible for general inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Zeinab Rahim Dashti
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Educational Sciences
Street address
Islamic Azad University-Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway, Ahvaz.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 936 237 4309
Email
rahimdashtizeynab@gmail.com

Person responsible for scientific inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Zeinab Rahim Dashti
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Educational Sciences
Street address
Islamic Azad University-Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway, Ahvaz.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 936 237 4309
Email
rahimdashtizeynab@gmail.com

Person responsible for updating data

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Full name of responsible person
Azam Moradi
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Educational Sciences
Street address
Islamic Azad University-Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway, Ahvaz.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 916 700 3196
Email
azam22000022@gmail.com

Sharing plan

Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
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