WWC review of this study

Using Computer-Assisted Instruction to Personalize Arithmetic Materials for Elementary School Children.

Anand, Padma G.; Ross, Steven M. (1987). Journal of Educational Psychology, v79 n1 p72-78. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ348470

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    48
     Students
    , grades
    5-6

Reviewed: September 2016

At least one finding shows promising evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards without reservations
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Substantively important negative effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

11 question math achievement test

Curriculum-Based Professional Development vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
48 students

2.28

1.12

Yes

--
 

11 question math achievement test

Curriculum-Based Professional Development vs. Computer-assisted instruction: concrete context

0 Days

Full sample;
48 students

2.28

3.58

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: 53%
    Male: 47%
  • Race
    Black
    52%
    White
    48%

Setting

The study took place at computers at a university-affiliated elementary school.

Study sample

The total sample was composed of 45 boys and 51 girls. Fifty were Black and 46 were Caucasian. There were 47 fifth grade students and 49 sixth grade students. The study report did not mention other sample characteristics.

Intervention Group

Groups of 1-3 students (each students used a separate computer) attended computer-assisted division of fractions lessons. The lessons were adapted from textbook, workbook, and teacher-made materials. The lessons reviewed math facts, introduced the rule for dividing fractions, and demonstrated the rule with five example problems. The students received example math problems that used general referents without meaningful background context.

Comparison Group

There were three comparison conditions. The first comparison condition was a business-as-usual condition that completed math units on addition, subtraction, and multiplication of fractions but did not receive any computer-assisted instruction. The second comparison condition was similar to the intervention, but where students received concrete context. Groups of 1-3 students (each student used a separate computer) attended computer-assisted division of fractions lessons. The lessons were adapted from textbook, workbook, and teacher-made materials. The lessons reviewed math facts, introduced the rule for dividing fractions, and demonstrated the rule with five example problems. The students received example math problems that used specific but non-personal referents. The third comparison condition was also similar to the intervention, but where students received personalized context. Groups of 1-3 students (each student used a separate computer) attended computer-assisted division of fractions lessons. The lessons were adapted from textbook, workbook, and teacher-made materials. The lessons reviewed math facts, introduced the rule for dividing fractions, and demonstrated the rule with five example problems. The students received example math problems that used referents that were items personally familiar to the student. The information to personalize the intervention was collected in a student biographical questionnaire.

Support for implementation

The interventions (all three computer-assisted instruction interventions) were implemented by the researcher. No support for implementation was provided.

Reviewed: September 2016

At least one finding shows promising evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards without reservations
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

11 question math achievement test

Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
48 students

5.95

1.12

Yes

--
 

11 question math achievement test

Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) vs. Computer-assisted instruction: abstract context

0 Days

Full sample;
48 students

5.95

2.28

Yes

--
 

11 question math achievement test

Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) vs. Computer-assisted instruction: concrete context

0 Days

Full samp;
48 students

5.95

3.58

Yes

--
 


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: 53%
    Male: 47%
  • Race
    Black
    52%
    White
    48%

Setting

The study took place at computers at a university-affiliated elementary school.

Study sample

The total sample was composed of 45 boys and 51 girls. Fifty were Black and 46 were Caucasian. There were 47 fifth grade students and 49 sixth grade students. The study report did not mention other sample characteristics.

Intervention Group

Groups of 1-3 students (each student used a separate computer) attended computer-assisted division of fractions lessons. The lessons were adapted from textbook, workbook, and teacher-made materials. The lessons reviewed math facts, introduced the rule for dividing fractions, and demonstrated the rule with five example problems. The students received example math problems that used referents that were items personally familiar to the student. The information to personalize the intervention was collected in a student biographical questionnaire.

Comparison Group

There were three comparison conditions. The first comparison condition was a business-as-usual condition that completed math units on addition, subtraction, and multiplication of fractions but did not receive any computer-assisted instruction. The second comparison condition was similar to the intervention, but where students received abstract context. Groups of 1-3 students (each students used a separate computer) attended computer-assisted division of fractions lessons. The lessons were adapted from textbook, workbook, and teacher-made materials. The lessons reviewed math facts, introduced the rule for dividing fractions, and demonstrated the rule with five example problems. The students received example math problems that used general referents without meaningful background context. The third comparison condition was also similar to the intervention, but where students received concrete context. Groups of 1-3 students (each student used a separate computer) attended computer-assisted division of fractions lessons. The lessons were adapted from textbook, workbook, and teacher-made materials. The lessons reviewed math facts, introduced the rule for dividing fractions, and demonstrated the rule with five example problems. The students received example math problems that used specific but non-personal referents.

Support for implementation

The interventions (all three computer-assisted instruction interventions) were implemented by the researcher. No support for implementation was provided.

Reviewed: September 2016

At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards without reservations
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Substantively important positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

11 question math achievement test

Curriculum-Based Measurement vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
48 students

3.58

1.12

Yes

--

11 question math achievement test

Curriculum-Based Measurement vs. Computer-assisted instruction: abstract context

0 Days

Full sample;
48 students

3.58

2.28

No

--

11 question math achievement test

Curriculum-Based Measurement vs. Computer-assisted instruction: personalized context

0 Days

Full samp;
48 students

3.58

5.95

Yes

--


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: 53%
    Male: 47%
  • Race
    Black
    52%
    White
    48%

Setting

The study took place at computers at a university-affiliated elementary school.

Study sample

The total sample was composed of 45 boys and 51 girls. Fifty were Black and 46 were Caucasian. There were 47 fifth grade students and 49 sixth grade students. The study report did not mention other sample characteristics.

Intervention Group

Groups of 1-3 students (each student used a separate computer) attended computer-assisted division of fractions lessons. The lessons were adapted from textbook, workbook, and teacher-made materials. The lessons reviewed math facts, introduced the rule for dividing fractions, and demonstrated the rule with five example problems. The students received example math problems that used specific but non-personal referents.

Comparison Group

There were three comparison conditions. The first comparison condition was a business-as-usual condition that completed math units on addition, subtraction, and multiplication of fractions but did not receive any computer-assisted instruction. The second comparison condition was similar to the intervention, but where students received abstract context. Groups of 1-3 students (each students used a separate computer) attended computer-assisted division of fractions lessons. The lessons were adapted from textbook, workbook, and teacher-made materials. The lessons reviewed math facts, introduced the rule for dividing fractions, and demonstrated the rule with five example problems. The students received example math problems that used general referents without meaningful background context. The third comparison condition was also similar to the intervention, but where students received personalized context. Groups of 1-3 students (each student used a separate computer) attended computer-assisted division of fractions lessons. The lessons were adapted from textbook, workbook, and teacher-made materials. The lessons reviewed math facts, introduced the rule for dividing fractions, and demonstrated the rule with five example problems. The students received example math problems that used referents that were items personally familiar to the student. The information to personalize the intervention was collected in a student biographical questionnaire.

Support for implementation

The interventions (all three computer-assisted instruction interventions) were implemented by the researcher. No support for implementation was provided.

Reviewed: September 2010

Meets WWC standards without reservations


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: 53%
    Male: 47%
  • Race
    Black
    52%
    White
    48%
 

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