Researching the New Basics

The New Basics Research Report

The New Basics Research Report (June 2004) includes the story of the New Basics from 1999 to 2004, brings together the findings of 25 separate research activities conducted over the course of the Trial (2000-2003), and presents the key messages drawn from the research. Synthesis of the Research gives the results of the research in terms of whether the New Basics is likely to lead to the changes that are wanted, likely to be accepted, and feasible on an extended basis. New Basics Research Papers: In Essence supports the Synthesis with a summary of each research activity's purpose, key evidence and conclusions. The full research papers will be released over time.

The Report can be downloaded in seven parts.
Key Elements of the History (new window) 189k
Synthesis of the Research (new window) 120k
Research Papers: In Essence(A) (new window) 279k
Research Papers: In Essence(B) (new window) 405k
Narrative and Commentary (A) (new window) 350k
Narrative and Commentary (B) (new window) 378k
End Matter (new window) 203k

Details of the research goals, rationale for methods used, analyses to be undertaken, and reporting schedule to be followed were set out in the publication New Basics - Research Program (new window) 638k (March 2003).

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Evaluation Report Of The New Basics Research Program

An external evaluation of the New Basics (new window) 428k was commissioned from Dr John Ainley of the Australian Council for Educational Research. The role of the evaluation was to review data and research findings, comment on the conduct of the research in each year of the trial and provide an independent evaluation report at the end of the trial. Although the evaluator had contact with the researchers, the evaluation was at a distance from them in operations and reporting. The evaluation was based on the research reports from the research program but the conclusions drawn are independent.

Research Symposium

The findings of the research were presented at a Research Symposium on 18 October 2004.

View Allan Luke's slides. (new window) 70k

Read Gabrielle Matters' summary of the findings. (new window) 260k

Continuing research

Research into student performance and teacher practice in Rich Tasks has continued since the conclusion of the Trial.

Read "Evaluation of the effectiveness of the consensus-based standards validation process" - external evaluation conducted by Professor Val Klenowski, James Cook University, 2006

Read "Consensus and comparability in the grading of Rich Tasks, 2005" (new window) 173k , a report on Joint Collections and Light Sampling 2005

Read "Standardised Literacy and Numeracy test scores and 'doing' the New Basics" (new window) 366k , an analysis of Literacy and Numeracy test scores, 2001 �2005, for students in New Basics and non New Basics schools

Read "Rich Tasks 2005: An analysis of the Rich Task Reports data 2005" (new window) 330k , which includes comparisons of the data 2003-2005.

Read "Students' grades in Rich Tasks 2004" (new window) 165k .

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