Intervention: MathThematics

Intervention: MathThematics
October 2008

Effectiveness

No studies of MathThematics that fall within the scope of the Middle School Math review meet WWC evidence standards. The lack of studies meeting WWC evidence standards means that, at this time, the WWC is unable to draw any conclusions based on research about the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of MathThematics.

Program Description ¹

MathThematics is a mathematics curriculum for grades 6 through 8 that combines activity-based, discovery learning with direct instruction. The textbook for each grade level has eight instructional modules, with each module focused on a theme.

Open-ended questions and projects are utilized throughout the curriculum to assess problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate mathematically.

*The WWC identified seven studies of MathThematics* that were published or released between 1983 and 2008.**
Five studies are within the scope of the review and have an eligible design, but do not meet WWC evidence standards. Two studies do not establish that the comparison group was comparable to the treatment group prior to the start of the intervention. Three studies have confounding factors, such as combining with other interventions, or having only one unit of analysis in one or both conditions, which makes it impossible to attribute the observed effect solely to MathThematics. One study is out of the scope of the review because the study does not use a comparison group. One study is out of the scope of the review, as defined by the Middle School Math protocol, because the study does not include math achievement as an outcome.

The WWC identified seven studies of MathThematics that were published or released between 1983 and 2008.

Five studies are within the scope of the review and have an eligible design, but do not meet WWC evidence standards.

Two studies do not establish that the comparison group was comparable to the treatment group prior to the start of the intervention.
Three studies have confounding factors, such as combining with other interventions, or having only one unit of analysis in one or both conditions, which makes it impossible to attribute the observed effect solely to MathThematics.

One study is out of the scope of the review because the study does not use a comparison group.

One study is out of the scope of the review, as defined by the Middle School Math protocol, because the study does not include math achievement as an outcome.

¹ The descriptive information for this program was obtained from publicly-available sources: the program’s website (http://www.mcdougallittell.com/ml/math.htm?level2Code=MM&lvl=3, downloaded August 2008) and information from the K–12 Mathematics Curriculum Center’s curriculum summary materials (http://www2.edc.org/mcc/PDF/CurricSum8.pdf, downloaded August 2008). The WWC requests developers to review the program description sections for accuracy from their perspective. Further verification of the accuracy of the descriptive information for this program is beyond the scope of this review.

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Effectiveness

Program Description1

What Works Clearinghouse Headlines

Program Description ¹