Review Protocols
Large numbers of students are not proficient in mathematics and there are disparities in mathematics achievement between students from different ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Mathematics skills are important for both academic and workplace success and there are a large number of interventions that aim to improve student mathematics achievement. This review focuses on mathematics interventions that are typically used in kindergarten through grade 8 and are designed to affect students’ mathematics achievement.
Whether an intervention falls under the scope of this review depends on both the grade level and content of the intervention. For example, the review can include students in grades 9–12 if they use a primary mathematics intervention such as pre-algebra.
The following research questions guide this review:
- Which interventions are effective at increasing the learning of primary mathematics content and skills
- Are some primary mathematics interventions more effective for certain types of students, particularly students who are at risk of failure in mathematics?
Prior versions available for download.
Protocol Details
- Version: 4.0
- Released: December 2018
- Version: 3.1
- Released: June 2015
- Version: 3.0
- Released: July 2014
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.