Review Protocols
This review focuses on interventions designed for use in a school-based setting with students in grades K–12 (generally aged 5–18) with a learning disability. The review examines the effect of interventions on the following types of outcomes: academic, problem behaviors, school engagement, self-determination, and social-emotional competence. Interventions must be implemented in authentic education settings.
The following research questions guide this review:
- Which interventions are effective at improving outcomes for students with learning disabilities? Are some interventions more effective than others for students with specific learning disabilities?
- Does the effectiveness of interventions for students with learning disabilities vary by type of outcome?
- Are some interventions more effective for particular subgroups of students with learning disabilities (for example, differences based on age groups, English learner status, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and school level) or in particular settings?
Prior versions available for download.
Table of Contents
- Purpose Statement
- Key Definition
- Procedures for Conducting the Literature Search
- Eligibility Criteria
- Evidence Standards
Protocol Details
- Version: 3.0
- Released: February 2017
- Version: 2.2
- Released: November 2012
- Version: 2.1
- Released: June 2012
- Version: 2.0
- Released: July 2011
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.