Equal practice increases rather than reduces initial ability differences in addition within the same grade¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r1 · q2
Currency · newest study 1914 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Groups of different initial ability given the same practice maintained and increased their lead, with higher initial scorers gaining more on average. → H. H. Hahn and E. L. Thorndike 1914

Evidence¶

H. H. Hahn and E. L. Thorndike 1914¶

H. H. Hahn and E. L. Thorndike. (1914). Some Results of Practice in Addition Under School Conditions. The Journal of Educational Psychology, Volume V, Number 2. https://www.google.com/search?q=Hahn+Thorndike+1914+Some+Results+of+Practice+in+Addition+Under+School+Conditions

q2 · i? · causal · r1

Table 7 reports average gross gains by initial-score bands within each grade; for example, grade 7 pupils in the highest band gained 19.4 on average while lower bands gained less. The article reports gains by initial status rising from 11.4 for the lowest band to 19.1 for the highest.

"The effect of equal practice upon groups of different initial ability within the same grade is to increase rather than reduce the initial differences. The facts are shown in Table 7. Those who by original capacity or circumstances of training are ahead at the start maintain and increase their lead."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Arithmetic Fact Retrieval — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• Pupils of the same grade show enormous individual differences in initial adding ability and in gain from equal practice — related
• Brighter pupils tend to work below capacity: the authors argue the greatest wastage exists among the brightest children, who may keep up to group averages while working under their ability — related