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Causal mediation analysis of teacher practice in education randomized trials

Research Method · All research methods
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 theoretical), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

The report defines a mediator as "an intermediate outcome that is measured after random assignment and that can be affected by the treatment." Its Figure 2.1 path model posits that intervention services improve teacher knowledge, which improves teacher practices, which improve student test scores, with an optional direct path d bypassing the teacher. The empirical focus is path ab (treatment effect on teacher practices) and path c, the "mediator effect" linking teacher practices to achievement. Teacher practice mediators are emphasized because they are expensive to collect and are key intermediate outcomes in the causal chain.

Accounts

  • Conceptual model of teacher practice mediation in education RCTs: The report defines a mediator as "an intermediate outcome that is measured after random assignment and that can be affected by the treatment." Its Figure 2.1 path model posits that intervention services improve teacher knowledge, which improves teacher practices, which improve student test scores, with an optional direct path d bypassing the teacher. The empirical focus is path ab (treatment effect on teacher practices) and path c, the "mediator effect" linking teacher practices to achievement. Teacher practice mediators are emphasized because they are expensive to collect and are key intermediate outcomes in the causal chain. (Schochet (2009))

Claims

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Key Sources

  • Schochet, Peter Z. (2009). Do Typical RCTs of Education Interventions Have Sufficient Statistical Power for Linking Impacts on Teacher Practice and Student Achievement Outcomes? (NCEE 2009-4065). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/do-typical-rcts-of-education-interventions-have-sufficient-statistical-power-for-linking-impacts-on-teacher-practice-and-student-achievement-outcomes
Page metadata
Field Value
type research-method
id causal-mediation-analysis-of-teacher-practice-in-education-randomized-trials
title Causal mediation analysis of teacher practice in education randomized trials
description The report defines a mediator as "an intermediate outcome that is measured after random assignment and that can be affected by the treatment." Its Figure 2.1 path model posits that intervention services improve teacher knowledge, which improves teacher practices, which improve student test scores, w
status review
moved_from theory/rct-teacher-practice-mediation-model
generated by process:sweep-kinds on 2026-10-10
trust unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources 1 — schochet-2009

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