ERIC Number: EJ1042753
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Oct
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-189X
EISSN: N/A
The Impact of Open Textbooks on Secondary Science Learning Outcomes
Robinson, T. Jared; Fischer, Lane; Wiley, David; Hilton, John, III
Educational Researcher, v43 n7 p341-351 Oct 2014
Given the increasing costs associated with commercial textbooks and decreasing financial support of public schools, it is important to better understand the impacts of open educational resources on student outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study is to analyze whether the adoption of open science textbooks significantly affects science learning outcomes for secondary students in earth systems, chemistry, and physics. This study uses a quantitative quasi-experimental design with propensity score matched groups and multiple regression to examine whether student learning was influenced by the adoption of open textbooks instead of traditional publisher produced textbooks. Students who used open textbooks scored 0.65 points higher on end-of-year state standardized science tests than students using traditional textbooks when controlling for the effects of 10 student and teacher covariates. Further analysis revealed statistically significant positive gains for students using the open chemistry textbooks, with no significant difference in student scores for earth systems of physics courses. Although the effect size of the gains were relatively small, and not consistent across all textbooks, the finding that open textbooks can be as effective or even slightly more effective than their traditional counterparts has important considerations in terms of school district policy in a climate of finite educational funding.
Descriptors: Secondary School Students, Science Instruction, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, Open Source Technology, Textbooks, Statistical Analysis, Quasiexperimental Design, Probability, Multiple Regression Analysis, Comparative Analysis, Academic Achievement, Science Tests, Standardized Tests, Predictor Variables, Statistical Significance, Scores, Instructional Effectiveness, Effect Size, Secondary School Teachers, Demography, Teacher Role, Teacher Characteristics, Student Characteristics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Utah
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A