The Circle of Friends intervention: a research synthesis

This research synthesis investigates studies that evaluated a well-known intervention, the Circle of Friends (CoF) – which seeks to promote the inclusion of socially neglected students. The aim of the review is two-fold; first, to identify the intervention’s variant applications and, second, to record what evidence-based outcomes have been reported. A systematic literature search including seven databases was conducted and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of nine articles were identified. The primary outcomes indicated that the intervention was mainly used with younger students (primary education) and only rarely used in secondary schools. Additionally, the results show that the intervention was set up significantly less often for girls. The quality of the majority of evaluations was lacking which leads to recommendations for further research on this intervention to include the utilisation of more rigorous and more rounded research designs and proper trialling. Critical issues surrounding the implementation of the intervention are also outlined.