Cumulative risk matters
Multiple concurrent risks are more informative than a single label, but they do not determine a single inevitable developmental outcome.
Comparison of two research programmes
Two programmes with different
questions and evidence
The programmes differ in period, sample, purpose, design and strength of evidence. These differences need to remain visible when their findings are compared.
Programme comparison
Design, scope and limitations
| Dimension | School-entry research | Preschool support programme |
|---|---|---|
| Period | Data collected 2006–2010; monograph published 2022 | Final research report, 2024 |
| Sample | 493 children from seven settlements | 81 children from two kindergartens |
| Primary question | How do cumulative risk, protective factors and resilience relate to school entry and later adaptation? | Do cognitive, behavioural and adult-rated resilience indicators change during a targeted programme? |
| Data | Pedagogical support-service assessments, school-readiness measures, cognitive tests, risk indicators and adaptation outcomes | Cognitive assessment, MSSST screening, parent and educator Conners questionnaires, parent and educator resilience ratings |
| Primary contribution | Longer developmental perspective and differentiated resilience groupings | Pre–post results from multiple informants, with a reflective account of programme implementation |
| Main limitation | Historical regional dataset; observational interpretation | Regional, non-representative sample; no randomised control group |
| Public output | Reziliencia és iskolakezdés (2022) | Final research report (2024) |
Across the two programmes
Points of continuity
01 02 Protection is distributed
Children draw on personal capacities, family relationships, educational settings and wider community resources.
03 Support should be adjusted to context
Activities need to match developmental level, current functioning and interest. In the programme, some planned tasks were too difficult or not sufficiently engaging and had to be adapted.
Detailed findings from the 2024 study
View the reported results and limitations
Each selected measure is presented with a note on the instrument, the statistical result and the relevant limitations.