Review Protocols
This What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) review focuses on mathematics interventions for elementary school students in kindergarten through grade 5 designed to impact student achievement, including curriculum-based interventions, instructional techniques, and products designed to deliver content and monitor student progress. Systematic reviews of evidence in this topic area address the following questions:
• Which interventions are effective in increasing the learning of mathematics content and skills among elementary school students?
• Are some interventions more effective for certain types of students, particularly students who are at risk of failure in mathematics?
In this review, a mathematics intervention is defined as a replicable, materials-based instructional program that is delivered to elementary school students, clearly delineates mathematics learning goals for students, and is designed to directly affect student mathematics achievement.
Outcomes that fall in the mathematics achievement domain are those related to mathematics content and skills, commonly described as what students should know and be able to do. Mathematics content varies somewhat across curricula and grade levels, but generally includes: numbers, arithmetic, pre-algebra, geometry, measurement, graphing, and logical reasoning. Mathematics skills are the application of the learning of this content, as well as an understanding of mathematical concepts, procedures, and problem solving.
Prior versions available for download.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Eligibility Criteria and Evidence Standards
- Literature Search Methodology
Protocol Details
- Version: 2.0
- Released: March 2012
- Version: 1.1
- Released: June 2009
- Version: 1.0
- Released: April 2007
What is a Protocol?
Starting in January 2021, the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) uses the Study Review Protocol in combination with the Procedures and Standards Handbook to guide reviews of all studies. In particular, the Study Review Protocol provides additional information on eligible outcome domains for all topic areas reviewed by the WWC and provides examples of outcome measures that fall within each domain.
When conducting systematic reviews, the WWC uses the Study Review Protocol to review studies and an accompanying topic area synthesis protocol to define the parameters of the systematic review. The synthesis protocol provides criteria for the literature search; guidance on how to identify and prioritize relevant studies for review and inclusion in evidence synthesis products; and guidance on intervention, sample, and outcome eligibility criteria for the synthesis.
Prior to 2021, studies were typically reviewed using a topic-specific synthesis protocol and the corresponding version of the Procedures and Standards Handbook. In addition to defining the parameters for the review, these protocols described any topic-specific applications of the design standards, such as how to establish baseline equivalence between samples when required.