Impact of the Curriculum

Research on the effects of Investigations in Number, Data, and Space® is based on a variety of measures of student achievement and learning including state-mandated standardized tests, research-based interview protocols, items from research studies published in peer-reviewed journals and specially constructed paper-and-pencil tests.

This body of research includes classroom studies, large-scale comparisons across schools, and small-scale comparisons between classrooms.

Together, the studies of Investigations in Number, Data, and Space® indicate that:

  • Investigations students do as well or better than students using other curricula in straight calculation problems involving basic facts and the whole number operations.

  • Investigations students have a better understanding of number and number relationships than students working with more traditional programs.

  • Investigations works equally well with students at different achievement levels in mathematics.

  • Students who use Investigations achieve greater accuracy on word problems and on more complex calculations than students in comparison classrooms.

  • Students in schools fully implementing Investigations outperform students in schools not using Investigations (or other NSF-funded elementary mathematics curricula) on a high stakes standardized test administered in Massachusetts.