Determining the effectiveness of teaching life skills through storytelling on creativity, social skills, and reducing shyness in students
Design
This study is a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group clinical trial conducted in Phase 2 on 30 fourth-grade male elementary school students (15 in each group). The sample allocation is done by simple randomization using the RAND function in Excel software; first, each participant receives an identification code and is divided into two groups of 15 based on a random number.
Settings and conduct
This study will employ a field experimental design using a pretest-posttest approach. The research will be conducted at the 17 Shahrivar Primary School. This will be a double-blind study, in which clinical caregivers, outcome assessors, and the data analyst will remain blinded to the participants’ group allocation (experimental vs. control)
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria
Aged between 9 and 10 years.
Currently enrolled in the fourth grade of primary school.
Informed consent obtained from both the participants (students) and their parents/legal guardians.
Exclusion Criteria
Presence of any physical health conditions that may interfere with the research process.
Current use of psychiatric medications.
Intervention groups
Intervention group: Life skills training is provided in 6 weekly 60-minute sessions in a group setting. Control group: Does not receive any intervention.
Main outcome variables
Creativity component; Social skills; Shyness
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20260705070079N1
Registration date:2026-07-17, 1405/04/26
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-07-17, 1405/04/26
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-07-17, 1405/04/26
Registrant information
Name
sara taherinasab
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 61 4365 0509
Email address
sarataherin456@gmail.com
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-08-06, 1405/05/15
Expected recruitment end date
2026-08-16, 1405/05/25
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The effectiveness of teaching life skills through storytelling on creativity, social skills, and reducing shyness in students.
Public title
The effectiveness of teaching life skills through storytelling
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Aged between 9 and 10 years.
Currently enrolled in the fourth grade of primary school.
Informed consent obtained from both the participants (students) and their parents/legal guardians.
Exclusion criteria:
Presence of any physical health conditions that may interfere with the research process.
Current use of psychiatric medications.
Age
From 9 years old to 10 years old
Gender
Male
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
Care provider
Outcome assessor
Data analyser
Sample size
Target sample size:
30
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In this study, simple randomization method is used to assign participants to two experimental and control groups. The randomization unit in this study is the fourth grade male students of Izeh city who are determined to be eligible for the study based on the entry criteria. First, a complete list of volunteer and eligible students who have been selected according to the entry criteria is prepared. Then, each participant is assigned a unique numerical identification code. These codes are entered into the Random Number Generator software and a random number is generated for each student. After generating the numbers, the participants are sorted in ascending order based on the value of the random number. Then, the individuals are assigned to two groups; sequentially, the first 15 people on the list are assigned to the experimental group and the next 15 people are assigned to the control group.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Double blinded
Blinding description
In order to control bias and improve the internal validity of the study, this study was designed with a double-blind protocol; in this way, the clinical caregivers, outcome assessor, and data analyst will be kept unaware of the allocation of individuals to the experimental and control groups. In this process, the outcome assessor will collect data at all stages of the pretest, posttest, and follow-up, without knowing the assigned group of the participants, in order to prevent bias in the measurement; also, all raw data will be provided to the statistical analyst with anonymous codes (such as groups 1 and 2), and the true nature of the groups will not be revealed until the end of the data analysis process. All allocation steps will be performed by an individual independent of the research team, and decoding of allocation codes will only be done after the final completion of the statistical analyses.
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Behbahan Islamic Azad University
Street address
Shahid Bayani Street., Amir Kabir Boulevard
City
Behbahan
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6361713198
Approval date
2026-06-14, 1405/03/24
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.BEHBAHAN.REC.1405.149
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Teaching skills to students
ICD-10 code
Z73.5
ICD-10 code description
Social role conflict, not elsewhere classified
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Creativity
Timepoint
Before performing the intervention and two weeks after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Abedi Creativity Questionnaire (1993)
2
Description
Social skills
Timepoint
Before performing the intervention and two weeks after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Gresham and Elliott Social Skills Questionnaire (1990)
3
Description
Shyness
Timepoint
Before performing the intervention and two weeks after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Chalpi and Amirkafi Shyness Questionnaire (2004)
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: Storytelling life skills training sessions will be held in 6 weekly 60-minute sessions for the experimental group. Storytelling life skills training is an educational approach that aims to strengthen abilities such as decision-making, problem-solving, empathy, social interaction, and emotion management, helping students learn appropriate ways to deal with life's problems and challenges through listening to stories, analyzing story situations, and role-playing. This method provides an indirect and practical learning environment for life skills by presenting engaging, creative story situations that are appropriate to the students' experiences. This approach has main educational axes that lead to the improvement of students' individual and social skills; These axes include: selecting 10 to 15 short, purposeful stories with messages about empathy, decision-making, and problem-solving, and preparing handouts or picture cards for different parts of the story, narrating the stories by the teacher with clear language and using attractive images, asking simple questions to ensure understanding of the story content, group discussion about the characters' behavior and their relationship to the desired skill, implementing practical activities and role-playing based on the story, summarizing key points and writing a short story by students, and finally administering a short test on the target skills and providing group feedback. The main emphasis of this training is on learning and applying life skills in real situations through understanding, analyzing, and experiencing story situations.
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Control group: They do not receive any intervention or treatment.
Category
N/A
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
17 Shahrivar Elementary School
Full name of responsible person
Sarah Taheri Nasab
Street address
Shahid Azizi Street, Basij Intersection
City
Izah
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391654348
Phone
+98 937 523 6826
Email
sarataherin456@gmail.com
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Asadabad University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Behrang Mohammad Salehi
Street address
Daneshjo Square, Zagros Boulevard
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391693627
Phone
+98 996 477 0611
Email
bsalehi@iau.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Asadabad University of Medical Sciences
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
Full name of responsible person
Sara Taherinasab
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 89, Shahid Azizi Street, Basij Intersection
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391654341
Phone
+98 61 4365 0509
Fax
Email
sarataherin456@gmail.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Sara Taherinasab
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 89, Shahid Azizi Street, Basij Intersection
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391654341
Phone
+98 61 4365 0509
Fax
Email
sarataherin456@gmail.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Sara Taherinasab
Position
Master's student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 89, Shahid Azizi Street, Basij Intersection
City
Izeh
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6391654341
Phone
+98 61 4365 0509
Fax
Email
sarataherin456@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
No - There is not 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