Research - National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI) The research base for Direct Instruction is broad, spanning over 40 years. The National Institute for Direct Instruction maintains an Office of Research and Evaluation that compiles, expands and analyzes research on DI. Find research-related documents in this section, including NIFDI Technical Reports, the DI Bibliography, white papers and more.

]]> https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research.html Mon, 25 Nov 2024 11:38:35 -0800 en-GB hourly 1 DI and Higher Order Thinking https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/4119-di-and-higher-order-thinking.html DI and Higher Order Thinking https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/4119-di-and-higher-order-thinking.html ashlycupit@gmail.com (Ashly Cupit) Research Mon, 25 Nov 2024 11:38:35 -0800 Scientifically Based Research: Evidence of Direct Instruction's Effectiveness https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/1-page-summaries/3331-scientifically-based-research-evidence-of-direct-instruction-s-effectiveness.html Scientifically Based Research: Evidence of Direct Instruction's Effectiveness https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/1-page-summaries/3331-scientifically-based-research-evidence-of-direct-instruction-s-effectiveness.html ashlycupit@gmail.com (Ashly Cupit) 1-Page Summaries Mon, 12 Aug 2019 13:25:11 -0700 Does the What Works Clearinghouse Really Work?: Investigations into Issues of Policy, Practice, and Transparency (January, 2017) https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1431-does-the-what-works-clearinghouse-really-work-investigations-into-issues-of-policy-practice-and-transparency.html Does the What Works Clearinghouse Really Work?: Investigations into Issues of Policy, Practice, and Transparency (January, 2017) This report reviews criticisms of What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) publications and policies, errors identified in their publications, and issues regarding the transparency and accountability of the WWC. The review is based on material obtained from a series of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted by the National Institute for Direct Instruction and subsequent appeals. With the information provided from the FOIA requests and appeals, and the publicly available information on the WWC, three conclusions appear clear: 1) The WWC suffers from a lack of transparency in their policies and guidelines, 2) the conclusions they create in their reports can be misleading, and 3) the reports are potentially damaging to program developers and ultimately the success of students. The validity and practicality of the WWC policies and reports are discussed.

]]> https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1431-does-the-what-works-clearinghouse-really-work-investigations-into-issues-of-policy-practice-and-transparency.html This report reviews criticisms of What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) publications and policies, errors identified in their publications, and issues regarding the transparency and accountability of the WWC. The review is based on material obtained from a series of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted by the National Institute for Direct Instruction and subsequent appeals. With the information provided from the FOIA requests and appeals, and the publicly available information on the WWC, three conclusions appear clear: 1) The WWC suffers from a lack of transparency in their policies and guidelines, 2) the conclusions they create in their reports can be misleading, and 3) the reports are potentially damaging to program developers and ultimately the success of students. The validity and practicality of the WWC policies and reports are discussed.

]]> ashlycupit@gmail.com (Ashly Cupit) White Papers Tue, 10 Jan 2017 10:24:52 -0800 Selected Studies of the Efficacy of Direct Instruction Language Programs https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/bibliographies-abstracts-of-literature/1390-selected-studies-of-the-efficacy-of-direct-instruction-language-programs.html Selected Studies of the Efficacy of Direct Instruction Language Programs https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/bibliographies-abstracts-of-literature/1390-selected-studies-of-the-efficacy-of-direct-instruction-language-programs.html ashlycupit@gmail.com (Ashly Cupit) Bibliographies & Abstracts of Literature Wed, 06 Jul 2016 11:54:55 -0700 2016-1: Effective Direct Instruction Implementations: The Impact of Administrative Decisions and Time https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/technical-reports/1386-2016-1-effective-direct-instruction-implementations-the-impact-of-administrative-decisions-and-time.html 2016-1: Effective Direct Instruction Implementations: The Impact of Administrative Decisions and Time Some Direct Instruction schools and classrooms are more successful than others. A major reason for these differences is implementation fidelity – the extent to which teachers and schools administer the programs as they were designed. Teachers and schools that conform most closely to DI implementation protocols have the most success.

This report uses data from different studies and settings to examine two general factors that make DI implementations more effective: 1) administrative decisions and practices and 2) experience with the program. The data show that DI students make significantly more progress at mastery and have significantly higher achievement when

  • their teachers implement the programs with greater fidelity
  • their teachers have been trained for the specific programs they are teaching
  • their teachers are given time and support to prepare lessons
  • they are taught for the recommended time each week
  • those deemed at risk are given extra instructional time (“double dosing”)
  • their teachers have more experience in teaching the programs
  • DI has been implemented at their schools for a longer period of time
  • they start learning with DI in kindergarten
]]> https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/technical-reports/1386-2016-1-effective-direct-instruction-implementations-the-impact-of-administrative-decisions-and-time.html Some Direct Instruction schools and classrooms are more successful than others. A major reason for these differences is implementation fidelity – the extent to which teachers and schools administer the programs as they were designed. Teachers and schools that conform most closely to DI implementation protocols have the most success.

This report uses data from different studies and settings to examine two general factors that make DI implementations more effective: 1) administrative decisions and practices and 2) experience with the program. The data show that DI students make significantly more progress at mastery and have significantly higher achievement when

  • their teachers implement the programs with greater fidelity
  • their teachers have been trained for the specific programs they are teaching
  • their teachers are given time and support to prepare lessons
  • they are taught for the recommended time each week
  • those deemed at risk are given extra instructional time (“double dosing”)
  • their teachers have more experience in teaching the programs
  • DI has been implemented at their schools for a longer period of time
  • they start learning with DI in kindergarten
]]> ashlycupit@gmail.com (Ashly Cupit) Technical Reports Mon, 04 Apr 2016 15:46:58 -0700 Iowa READS Reading Remediation Program Results https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/1384-iowa-reads-reading-remediation-program-results.html Iowa READS Reading Remediation Program Results https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/1384-iowa-reads-reading-remediation-program-results.html ashlycupit@gmail.com (Ashly Cupit) Research Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:11:49 -0700 2010-2: Increasing Reading Skills in Rural Districts: A Case Study of Three Schools https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/technical-reports/1372-2010-2-increasing-reading-skills-in-rural-districts.html 2010-2: Increasing Reading Skills in Rural Districts: A Case Study of Three Schools This report examines changes in reading skills of elementary students in three rural Midwestern school districts after the implementation of Reading Mastery (RM) with support from the National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI). Data from two sets of student cohorts: 1) cohorts that began school before RM was implemented and did not start the curriculum until first grade or later (partial exposure cohorts), and 2) cohorts that had RM beginning in kindergarten with teachers fully complying with the NIFDI model (full exposure cohorts). By the middle of kindergarten, those in the full exposure cohorts had significantly higher DIBELS scores than students in the partial exposure cohort and scores that were equal to or significantly higher than those in the national sample. Differences remained strong and significant through the primary years, and effect sizes surpassed usual standards of educational significance. Data on fourth graders from one district showed statistically significant and educationally important increases in scores on the state reading assessment after exposure to RM.

]]> https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/technical-reports/1372-2010-2-increasing-reading-skills-in-rural-districts.html This report examines changes in reading skills of elementary students in three rural Midwestern school districts after the implementation of Reading Mastery (RM) with support from the National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI). Data from two sets of student cohorts: 1) cohorts that began school before RM was implemented and did not start the curriculum until first grade or later (partial exposure cohorts), and 2) cohorts that had RM beginning in kindergarten with teachers fully complying with the NIFDI model (full exposure cohorts). By the middle of kindergarten, those in the full exposure cohorts had significantly higher DIBELS scores than students in the partial exposure cohort and scores that were equal to or significantly higher than those in the national sample. Differences remained strong and significant through the primary years, and effect sizes surpassed usual standards of educational significance. Data on fourth graders from one district showed statistically significant and educationally important increases in scores on the state reading assessment after exposure to RM.

]]> ashlycupit@gmail.com (Ashly Cupit) Technical Reports Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:23:46 -0800 Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater? The What Works Clearinghouse Criteria for Group Equivalence, Sep. 9, 2013 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1360-throwing-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater-the-what-works-clearinghouse-criteria-for-group-equivalence-sep-9-2013.html Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater? The What Works Clearinghouse Criteria for Group Equivalence, Sep. 9, 2013 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1360-throwing-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater-the-what-works-clearinghouse-criteria-for-group-equivalence-sep-9-2013.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) White Papers Mon, 13 Jul 2015 16:13:08 -0700 Direct Instruction, Comprehensive School Reform, and Student Achievement, July 5, 2015 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1359-direct-instruction-comprehensive-school-reform-and-student-achievement-july-5-2015.html Direct Instruction, Comprehensive School Reform, and Student Achievement, July 5, 2015 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1359-direct-instruction-comprehensive-school-reform-and-student-achievement-july-5-2015.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) White Papers Mon, 13 Jul 2015 16:03:28 -0700 The Ups and Downs of Whole School Reform: A Case Study of Success and Its Demise, April 11, 2009 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1358-the-ups-and-downs-of-whole-school-reform-a-case-study-of-success-and-its-demise-april-11-2009.html The Ups and Downs of Whole School Reform: A Case Study of Success and Its Demise, April 11, 2009 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1358-the-ups-and-downs-of-whole-school-reform-a-case-study-of-success-and-its-demise-april-11-2009.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) White Papers Mon, 13 Jul 2015 16:02:13 -0700 A Summary of Concerns Regarding the What Works Clearinghouse, Sept. 4, 2012 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1357-a-summary-of-concerns-regarding-the-what-works-clearinghouse-sept-4-2012.html A Summary of Concerns Regarding the What Works Clearinghouse, Sept. 4, 2012 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1357-a-summary-of-concerns-regarding-the-what-works-clearinghouse-sept-4-2012.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) White Papers Mon, 13 Jul 2015 16:00:21 -0700 The Potential Long-Term Economic and Health Impacts of Direct Instruction, May 22, 2015 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1356-the-potential-long-term-economic-and-health-impacts-of-direct-instruction-may-22-2015.html The Potential Long-Term Economic and Health Impacts of Direct Instruction, May 22, 2015 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1356-the-potential-long-term-economic-and-health-impacts-of-direct-instruction-may-22-2015.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) White Papers Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:56:29 -0700 Summary of Literature Regarding the Effectiveness of Direct Instruction and Projections of Changes in Achievement, October 24, 2013 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1355-summary-of-literature-regarding-the-effectiveness-of-direct-instruction-and-projections-of-changes-in-achievement-october-24-2013.html Summary of Literature Regarding the Effectiveness of Direct Instruction and Projections of Changes in Achievement, October 24, 2013 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1355-summary-of-literature-regarding-the-effectiveness-of-direct-instruction-and-projections-of-changes-in-achievement-october-24-2013.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) White Papers Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:55:07 -0700 Does the What Works Clearinghouse Work? (Sept. 2013) https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1354-does-the-what-works-clearinghouse-work-sept-2013.html Does the What Works Clearinghouse Work? (Sept. 2013) https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1354-does-the-what-works-clearinghouse-work-sept-2013.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) White Papers Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:51:11 -0700 Direct Instruction and School Attendance - June 30, 2015 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/bibliographies-abstracts-of-literature/1353-direct-instruction-and-school-attendance-june-30-2015.html Direct Instruction and School Attendance - June 30, 2015 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/bibliographies-abstracts-of-literature/1353-direct-instruction-and-school-attendance-june-30-2015.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) Bibliographies & Abstracts of Literature Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:50:14 -0700 A Brief Summary of Research on Direct Instruction, January 2015 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1352-a-brief-summary-of-research-on-direct-instruction-january-2015.html A Brief Summary of Research on Direct Instruction, January 2015 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1352-a-brief-summary-of-research-on-direct-instruction-january-2015.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) White Papers Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:48:49 -0700 Harmful Effects of Academic Early Education? A Look at the Claims and the Evidence, June 15, 2015 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1351-harmful-effects-of-academic-early-education-a-look-at-the-claims-and-the-evidence-june-15-2015.html Harmful Effects of Academic Early Education? A Look at the Claims and the Evidence, June 15, 2015 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/white-papers/1351-harmful-effects-of-academic-early-education-a-look-at-the-claims-and-the-evidence-june-15-2015.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) White Papers Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:47:34 -0700 Research Syntheses of the Efficacy of Direct Instruction, July 2014 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/bibliographies-abstracts-of-literature/1350-research-syntheses-of-the-efficacy-of-direct-instruction-july-2014.html Research Syntheses of the Efficacy of Direct Instruction, July 2014 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/bibliographies-abstracts-of-literature/1350-research-syntheses-of-the-efficacy-of-direct-instruction-july-2014.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) Bibliographies & Abstracts of Literature Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:46:24 -0700 Selected Studies of the Efficacy of Direct Instruction Mathematics Programs, Timothy W. Wood and Jean Stockard, December 11, 2014 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/bibliographies-abstracts-of-literature/1349-selected-studies-of-the-efficacy-of-direct-instruction-mathematics-programs-timothy-w-wood-and-jean-stockard-december-11-2014.html Selected Studies of the Efficacy of Direct Instruction Mathematics Programs, Timothy W. Wood and Jean Stockard, December 11, 2014 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/bibliographies-abstracts-of-literature/1349-selected-studies-of-the-efficacy-of-direct-instruction-mathematics-programs-timothy-w-wood-and-jean-stockard-december-11-2014.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) Bibliographies & Abstracts of Literature Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:44:47 -0700 Reading Mastery and Learning Disabled Students: A Bibliography November 2012 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/bibliographies-abstracts-of-literature/1348-reading-mastery-and-learning-disabled-students-a-bibliography-november-2012.html Reading Mastery and Learning Disabled Students: A Bibliography November 2012 https://www.nifdi.org/docman/research/bibliographies-abstracts-of-literature/1348-reading-mastery-and-learning-disabled-students-a-bibliography-november-2012.html ccox@nifdi.org (Christina Cox) Bibliographies & Abstracts of Literature Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:43:24 -0700