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Small Group Instruction to Improve Student Performance in Mathematics in Early Grades: Results from a Randomized Field Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Hans Bonesrønning
  • Henning Finseraas
  • Ines Hardoy
  • Jon Marius Vaag Iversen
  • Ole Henning Nyhus
  • Vibeke Opheim
  • Kari Vea Salvanes
  • Astrid Marie Jorde Sandsør
  • Pål Schøne

Abstract

We report results from a large-scale, pre-registered randomized field experiment in 159 Norwegian schools over four years. The intervention includes students aged 7-9 and consists of pulling students from their regular mathematics classes into small, homogenous groups for mathematics instruction for 3 to 4 hours per week, for two periods of 4-6 weeks per school year. All students, not only struggling students, are pulled out. We find that students in treatment schools increased their performance in mathematics by .16 standard deviations at the end of the school year and by .06 standard deviations in national tests 1-2 years later, with no differential effect by pre-ability level or gender. Our study is particularly relevant for policy-makers seeking to use additional teaching resources to target a heterogeneous student population efficiently.

Suggested Citation

  • Hans Bonesrønning & Henning Finseraas & Ines Hardoy & Jon Marius Vaag Iversen & Ole Henning Nyhus & Vibeke Opheim & Kari Vea Salvanes & Astrid Marie Jorde Sandsør & Pål Schøne, 2021. "Small Group Instruction to Improve Student Performance in Mathematics in Early Grades: Results from a Randomized Field Experiment," CESifo Working Paper Series 9443, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_9443
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    Cited by:

    1. Henning Finseraas & Ole Henning Nyhus & Kari Vea Salvanes & Astrid Marie Jorde Sandsør, 2024. "Sustained Effects of Small-Group Instruction in Mathematics," CESifo Working Paper Series 11021, CESifo.
    2. Suzanne Bellue & Lukas Mahler, 2024. "Efficiency and Equity of Education Tracking A Quantitative Analysis," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2024_546, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    3. Simon Calmar Andersen & Louise Beuchert & Phillip Heiler & Helena Skyt Nielsen, 2023. "A Guide to Impact Evaluation under Sample Selection and Missing Data: Teacher's Aides and Adolescent Mental Health," Papers 2308.04963, arXiv.org.
    4. Nicolai T. Borgen & Lars J. Kirkebøen & Andreas Kotsadam & Oddbjørn Raaum, 2022. "Do funds for more teachers improve student outcomes?," Discussion Papers 982, Statistics Norway, Research Department.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    education economics; small group instruction; tutoring; tracking; class size; field experiment; intervention; randomized controlled trial; teacher-student ratio; mathematics instruction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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