Incorporating Design Based Implementation Research With a Randomized Controlled Trial to Develop and Evaluate the Efficacy of Playful Rational Number Learning

Authors

Kreshnik N. Begolli, University of California, IrvineFollow
Vanessa N. Bermudez, University of California, IrvineFollow
LuEttaMae Lawrence, Utah State UniversityFollow
Lourdes M. Acevedo-Farag, University of California, IrvineFollow
Sabrina V. Valdez, University of California, IrvineFollow
Evelyn Santana, University of California, IrvineFollow
Daniela Alvarez-Vargas, University of California, IrvineFollow
June Ahn, University of California, IrvineFollow
Drew Bailey, University of California, IrvineFollow
Katherine Rhodes, University of California, IrvineFollow
Lindsey E. Richland, University of California, IrvineFollow
Andres S. Bustamante, University of California, IrvineFollow

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Contemporary Educational Psychology

Author ORCID Identifier

Kreshnik N. Begolli https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4801-6688

Volume

78

Publisher

Academic Press

Publication Date

6-22-2024

Journal Article Version

Version of Record

First Page

1

Last Page

33

Abstract

We combine design-based implementation research with a pre-registered RCT to address a long-standing challenge in psychological science: How to use psychological principles to address real-world problems while designing and implementing interventions in the field. We posit this as a design methodology for optimizing the translation between psychological science and real-world applications. We tested the efficacy of an extensively co-designed version of a game-based rational number intervention, Fraction Ball, versus "business-as-usual" math instruction and physical education in a sample of 4th/5th grade Latine students (N=360). Insights from nine co-design sessions with 20 teachers informed revisions and additions to a previous version of Fraction Ball, strengthening impacts across 10 of 12 rational number subtests. This methodology provides insights for translating psychological science research and scaling it to address real-world educational needs, such as play-based interventions that improve rational number understanding in authentic contexts.

Recommended Citation

Kreshnik N. Begolli, Vanessa N. Bermudez, LuEttaMae Lawrence, Lourdes M. Acevedo-Farag, Sabrina V. Valdez, Evelyn Santana, Daniela Alvarez-Vargas, June Ahn, Drew Bailey, Katherine Rhodes, Lindsey E. Richland, Andres S. Bustamante, Incorporating Design Based Implementation Research with a Randomized Controlled Trial to develop and evaluate the efficacy of playful rational number learning, Contemporary Educational Psychology, Volume 78, 2024, 102296, ISSN 0361-476X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2024.102296.