Research

Over 40 years of scientific research has supported the development of Direct Instruction. The curriculum is based on extensive scientific research , and each element of the curriculum is carefully tested to make sure it is effective and sound before it is put on the market.

Many studies in a wide variety of settings demonstrate that children who receive Direct Instruction have significantly higher achievement and make more rapid educational progress than students in other programs. Project Follow Through, the largest educational experiment ever conducted, documented DI’s superiority in the 1970s. Since then, many other studies have confirmed these results, and new research reports continue to appear. 

Large-scale meta-analyses and extensive literature reviews confirm that the positive effects of DI curriculum are much larger than those obtained by other programs.

Research on Direct Instruction continues to appear. Many studies are found in general education and social science journals. The Journal of Direct Instruction is exclusively devoted to publishing scholarly work on Direct Instruction.  Direct Instruction News  provides timely information about recent events in the Direct Instruction community.  The NIFDI Research  Office also produces timely reports of Direct Instruction implementations.
  
Despite this extensive research base, myths about DI still circulate. Consistently, however, research evidence indicates that these stories are untrue.

To find out more about the research on Direct Instruction click on the topics below.

The Principles of Effective Instruction
Field Testing DI Programs
Project Follow-Through demonstrates DI Effectiveness
Research Studies
NIFDI Research Reports
Assessing the DI Research Base
Myths about Direct Instruction and What the Research Says
What Works Clearinghouse

Contact the NIFDI Research Office

Jean Stockard, Ph.D.
Director of Research
Toll Free:  1-877-485-1973
research@nifdi.org