Claims

UCSMP Algebra has potentially positive effects on general mathematics achievement for secondary students, with a small extent of evidence

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 2 studies (3 entries) · 2 causal r2 · q2 · i2–i3
Currency · newest study 2016 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims

Reading the evidence codes

q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.

This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.

q2 i2 In one quasi-experimental study of 189 students, UCSMP Algebra produced a statistically significant positive effect on general mathematics achievement (effect size 0.81, improvement index +29). → University of Chicago School Mathematics Project 2016

q2 i3 In one quasi-experimental study of 189 students, UCSMP Algebra produced a statistically significant positive effect on general mathematics achievement (effect size 0.81, improvement index +29). → What Works Clearinghouse 2016

Evidence

University of Chicago School Mathematics Project 2016

University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. (2016). University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP) — WWC Intervention Report, Secondary Mathematics. What Works Clearinghouse. https://ucsmp.uchicago.edu

q2 · i2 · causal · r?

Quasi-experimental matched-pairs study (Thompson et al., 2006) in three high schools comparing UCSMP Algebra (second edition) to non-UCSMP textbooks across six matched pairs of classrooms (189 students). The WWC confirmed a positive, statistically significant difference on the UCSMP Algebra Test, "after applying a correction for classroom-level clustering"; the printed effect size is 0.81 with improvement index +29.

"Thompson et al. (2006) found, and the WWC confirmed (after applying a correction for classroom-level clustering), one positive and statistically significant difference between the UCSMP Algebra and comparison groups in the general mathematics achievement domain."

University of Chicago School Mathematics Project 2016 (2)

University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. (2016). University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP) — WWC Intervention Report, Secondary Mathematics. What Works Clearinghouse. https://ucsmp.uchicago.edu

q2 · i2 · causal · r?

WWC calculations for the UCSMP Algebra Test show intervention mean 49.8 (SD 16.3) versus comparison 37.3 (SD 14.9), mean difference 12.54, "0.81 +29 .04" — effect size 0.81, improvement index +29, p-value .04.

"UCSMP Algebra Test Grades 9–12, Schools X, Y, & Z 12 classes/ 189 students 49.8 (16.3) 37.3 (14.9) 12.54 0.81 +29 .04"

What Works Clearinghouse 2016

What Works Clearinghouse, U.S. Department of Education. (2016). What Works Clearinghouse intervention report: University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP). What Works Clearinghouse. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/InterventionReport/641

q2 · i3 · causal · r2

Matched-pairs quasi-experiment (Thompson et al., 2006) comparing UCSMP Algebra (second edition) to non-UCSMP textbooks in three high schools; on the UCSMP Algebra Test the intervention mean was "49.8 (16.3)" versus "37.3 (14.9)", effect size "0.81", improvement index "+29", p-value ".04".

"UCSMP Algebra Test Grades 9–12, Schools X, Y, & Z 12 classes/ 189 students 49.8 (16.3) 37.3 (14.9) 12.54 0.81 +29 .04"

Discussion

Page metadata
Field Value
type claim
id ucsmp-algebra-positive-general-mathematics-achievement
aliases ucsmp-algebra-potentially-positive-general-mathematics-achievement
title UCSMP Algebra has potentially positive effects on general mathematics achievement for secondary students, with a small extent of evidence
description UCSMP Algebra has potentially positive effects on general mathematics achievement for secondary students, with a small extent of evidence
status review
evidence_strength moderate
newest_evidence 2016
generated by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-07
trust unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources 3 — university-of-chicago-school-mathematics-project-2016, university-of-chicago-school-mathematics-project-2016-2, what-works-clearinghouse-2016

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