Dino Study: Daily Intervention-based research on Nurturing Opportunities

Children with conduct problems differ widely in how they respond to behavioral interventions. While group-based, child-focused programs are increasingly used, research often still depends on retrospective parent or teacher reports and group-level outcomes. These traditional methods may overlook individual differences in treatment response and limit opportunities for tailored behavioral support.

The Dino Study—Daily Intervention-based research on Nurturing Opportunities—introduces the Incredible Years Dinosaur Program in the Netherlands for children aged 4 to 8 with conduct problems. This evidence-based, play-oriented group intervention aims to strengthen children’s emotional regulation, social skills, and problem-solving abilities. Despite its proven group-level effectiveness, little is known about how behavioral change unfolds in children’s daily lives.

This study evaluates both the overall effectiveness of the program and how individual children respond to it on a day-to-day basis. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 120 participants (intervention vs. waitlist), we combine traditional pre-post assessments with Intensive Longitudinal Data (ILD) via daily diaries. These daily measures capture fluctuations in mood, behavior, and family interactions before, during, and after the intervention.

By combining group-level evaluation with fine-grained, within-child analyses, the study aims to uncover mechanisms of change and identify patterns of individual responsiveness. Findings will inform more personalized and ecologically valid approaches to early intervention for children with behavioral difficulties.