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First-year composition and transfer: a quantitative study

  • James D. Williams
    ,
  • Minami Hattori
  • Soka University of America
    ,
  • University of Notre Dame
Research Output:
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Article
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Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of writing pedagogy on transfer by examining the effect of pedagogical orientation (WAC/WID or ‘traditional’) on content-area grades. Participants were 1,052 undergraduates from 17 schools throughout the United States. Hypothesis was that the WAC/WID orientation would lead to higher transfer levels as measured by participants’ higher content-area performance. Composition grades were collected in year one; content-area grades where collected in year two. Propensity scores were calculated to stratify the groups and minimize selection bias of writing-class assignment, thereby allowing quasi-causal inference. An ANOVA was performed on the resulting 2-by-5 stratified data. Results indicated that students who completed the WAC/WID composition classes received significantly higher content grades than those in the ‘traditional’ writing classes. The results confirmed the hypothesis.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
 Peer-review

Original language

English

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of pedagogic development

Publication milestones

  • Published - 03/2017

Publication status

Published - 03/2017

ISSN

2047-3265

Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/622064

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