WWC review of this study

Support for Struggling Students in Algebra: Contributions of Incorrect Worked Examples [Correct worked examples]

Barbieri, Christina; Booth, Julie L. (2016). Learning and Individual Differences v48 p36-44. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED566951

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    85
     Students
    , grade
    8

Reviewed: August 2022

No statistically significant positive
findings
Meets WWC standards with reservations
Algebra outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Researcher-developed systems of equations assessment

Correct worked examples - Barbieri & Booth, (2016) vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
85 students

47.91

50.34

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • Female: 59%
    Male: 41%
  • Race
    Other or unknown
    100%
  • Ethnicity
    Other or unknown    
    100%
  • Eligible for Free and Reduced Price Lunch
    Free or reduced price lunch (FRPL)    
    11%
    No FRPL    
    89%

Setting

The study was conducted in five Algebra 1 classrooms located in a middle school in the United States. The authors do not describe the type of middle school or the state in which it was located.

Study sample

The researchers randomly assigned 45 students to the intervention group that received correct worked examples and 47 students to the comparison group. A total of 85 students who were primarily in 8th grade (97% with 3% unspecified) were included in the study. Approximately 59% of the students were female and 11% were from low-income families. The authors describe the demographics of the student sample using two categories that combine race and ethnicity: 23% of students were African American, Hispanic, or more than one race; and 77% were non-Hispanic White or Asian.

Intervention Group

The correct worked examples condition allows students to observe how algebra problems can be solved so that students can emulate successful strategies on their own. The correct worked examples intervention was offered to individual students in class during their Algebra 1 class period. Students received 4 worksheets over a period of 2 to 7 weeks during the time teachers were covering systems of equations. Teachers allowed students 20 minutes to complete each worksheet. Each worksheet asked students to solve a system of equations by finding the values of two unknowns, using a different method on each worksheet (graphing, substitution, elimination with addition and subtraction, and elimination with multiplication). Each worksheet contained four examples of fictitious students' correctly worked solutions to problems with key steps highlighted and prompts to help students understand the examples. In addition to the four examples, the worksheets included four additional problems for students to complete on their own.

Comparison Group

Students in the comparison group received four worksheets over the same period as the intervention group that included eight problems for students to solve on their own, but the worksheets contained no examples of correctly worked solutions.

Support for implementation

The study did not describe any support for implementation.

 

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