Designing Studies to Test Causal Questions About Early Math: The Development of Making Pre-K Count

Shira K. Mattera, Pamela A. Morris, Robin Jacob, Michelle Maier, Natalia Rojas

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

A growing literature has demonstrated that early math skills are associated with later outcomes for children. This research has generated interest in improving children's early math competencies as a pathway to improved outcomes for children in elementary school. The Making Pre-K Count study was designed to test the effects of an early math intervention for preschoolers. Its design was unique in that, in addition to causally testing the effects of early math skills, it also allowed for the examination of a number of additional questions about scale-up, the influence of contextual factors and the counterfactual environment, the mechanism of long-term fade-out, and the role of measurement in early childhood intervention findings. This chapter outlines some of the design considerations and decisions put in place to create a rigorous test of the causal effects of early math skills that is also able to answer these questions in early childhood mathematics and intervention. The study serves as a potential model for how to advance science in the fields of preschool intervention and early mathematics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdvances in Child Development and Behavior
PublisherAcademic Press Inc.
Pages227-253
Number of pages27
Volume53
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Publication series

NameAdvances in Child Development and Behavior
Volume53
ISSN (Print)0065-2407

Keywords

  • Causal design
  • Early childhood education
  • Math
  • Preschool
  • Exploratory Behavior
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Humans
  • Early Intervention, Educational/methods
  • Child, Preschool
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Vulnerable Populations
  • Mathematics/education
  • Models, Educational
  • Curriculum
  • Female
  • Concept Formation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Designing Studies to Test Causal Questions About Early Math: The Development of Making Pre-K Count'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this