Cited by 425Communication in Education and HealthcareEvaluation of Teaching PracticesInnovative Teaching and Learning Methods

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 90 of the 90 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 5 of the 63 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Teacher–Student Dialogue During Classroom Teaching: Does It Really Impact on Student Outcomes?

Open access
Howe, Christine, Hennessy, Sara, Mercer, Neil, Vrikki, Maria, Wheatley, Lisa·2019·Journal of the Learning Sciences

Abstract

It is now widely believed that classroom dialogue matters as regards student outcomes, with optimal patterns often regarded as requiring some or all of open questions, elaboration of previous contributions, reasoned discussion of competing viewpoints, linkage and coordination across contributions, metacognitive engagement with dialogue, and high student participation. To date, however, the relevance of such features has been most convincingly examined in relation to small-group interaction among students; little is known about their applicability to teacher–student dialogue. This article reports a large-scale study that permits some rebalancing. The study revolved around 2 lessons (covering 2 of mathematics, literacy, and science) that were video recorded in each of 72 demographically diverse classrooms (students’ ages 10–11 years). Key measures of teacher–student dialogue were related to 6 indices of student outcome, which jointly covered curriculum mastery, reasoning, and educationally relevant attitudes. Prior attainment and attitudes were considered in analyses, as were other factors (e.g., student demographics and further aspects of classroom practice) that might confound interpretation of dialogue–outcome relations. So long as students participated extensively, elaboration and querying of previous contributions were found to be positively associated with curriculum mastery, and elaboration was also positively associated with attitudes.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This naturalistic study of 72 English primary classrooms examined whether theoretically productive teacher–student dialogue predicts student outcomes after controlling for prior attainment and other confounds. It found that Elaborated dialogue and Querying were positively associated with curriculum mastery only when Student Participation was high, and Elaborated was also positively associated with attitudes, but support did not extend to science or reasoning.

Key findings

  • Elaborated and Querying interacted with Student Participation for Mathematics and SPAG: high Elaborated/Querying plus high Student Participation was most productive. For example, classes above average on Elaborated+Querying and Student Participation had estimated marginal Mathematics SAT mean 107.68 and SPAG mean 108.71, versus 104.57 and 106.01 for above-average Elaborated+Querying but below-average Student Participation.
  • Elaborated had a positive main effect on end-of-year PASS attitudes, \(t(71.54)=5.13, p<.001\), and this was not undermined by Querying.
  • No statistically significant main effects of dialogue were found with Reading SAT, science, or reasoning. With reasoning, Elaborated × Refer Back was significant, \(t(79.00)=-2.05, p=.044\), but the paper describes the pattern as inconsistent and not strongly positive.
  • Reasoned dialogue variables showed little positive evidence: the Reasoned/Non-Dialogic Ratio was positively associated with PASS, but benefits were eliminated under high Querying; across SATs and science there was only one significant result involving reasoned dialogue, and it did not reflect a positive impact.

Methods

  • Naturalistic design: 72 demographically diverse Year 5/6 primary classes (students aged 10–11) across 48 schools in England; two lessons per class were video-recorded, covering two of mathematics, literacy, and science (144 lessons total).
  • Dialogue was analyzed with turn-level codes and lesson-level ratings; key variables included Elaborated, Reasoned, Querying, Referring Back, Referring Widely, ratios to Non-Dialogic, and Student Participation.
  • Outcomes were six indices: Mathematics, SPAG, and Reading SATs; a specially designed science test; a specially designed reasoning test; and end-of-year PASS attitudes. Analyses used two-level (class, student) modelling with baseline and confound variables controlled; usable samples included 1,751 Reading SAT, 1,754 SPAG, 1,573 Mathematics SAT from 61 classes, 1,103 science from 44 classes, 1,778 reasoning, and 1,784 PASS.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the naturalistic approach left some themes inadequately examined: coordination codes CI, SC, and RC were too rare for analysis, Talk Rules ratings were too consistently low and potentially unreliable, and Referring Back/Referring Widely frequencies were low.
  • The paper states that science results may be affected by sampling and motivation: the science test was taken in only 44 classes, often after SATs, sometimes with lower curriculum coverage, and the sample mean was 13.99 out of 33.
  • The paper states that the sample was restricted to England and that the science and reasoning tests were newly designed for the study; it also notes that further research is needed before optimal dialogue patterns can be specified.
  • Evident from the text: the design is correlational, not causal; dialogue was sampled from only two lessons per class; and several outcomes relied on teacher-administered or teacher-supplied assessment.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1080/10508406.2019.1573730

Cites

90 of 90 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Verification

Claims the paper makes

97 Own result · 33 Own method · 31 Own interpretation · 15 No basis given · 14 Sources not found · 11 No full text of the sources · 7 Not checked yet · 2 Partly supported · 1 Supported · 1 Supported so far · 1 Not supported · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 72 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 82
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 88
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
141 of 141
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The five themes (open questions, elaboration, reasoned discussion, linkage/coordination, meta-cognitive engagement) and high student contribution together constitute a valid operationalization of theoretically productive classroom dialogue.

    “The paper refers to the themes collectively as 'theoretically productive (classroom) dialogue', with 'productive' meaning 'conducive to positive student outcomes' and 'dialogue' employed in the broader of the senses discussed above but qualified via 'productive'.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Teacher-student dialogue predominates in classroom settings.

    “This is despite its predominance in classroom settings.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The five themes, together with the crosscutting theme, embody widely held conceptions of productive classroom dialogue.

    “The study reported here was predicated upon five themes that, together with a further theme that cuts across all five, embody widely held conceptions of productive classroom dialogue.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    What is productive amongst students is not necessarily productive when teachers are involved.

    “However, what is productive amongst students is not necessarily productive when teachers are involved”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Previously there was little convincing evidence relating to teacher-student dialogue.

    “and previously there was little convincing evidence relating to teacher-student dialogue.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Variables extrinsic to dialogue-outcome relations only distort interpretation of those relations when they are associated with both dialogue and outcome.

    “Variables extrinsic to dialogue-outcome relations only distort interpretation of those relations when they are associated with both dialogue and outcome.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The expert scholars' rankings are valid indicators of educationally productive dialogue.

    “All eight scholars had previously endorsed most (often all) of the themes, meaning that their rankings bore directly on theme-variable coherence.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Promoting Elaborated, Querying, and Student Participation in teacher-student dialogue will produce benefits in student outcomes.

    “Achievement of this combination alone should pay dividends.”
    “Nevertheless, benefits should accrue from promoting Elaborated, Querying, and Student Participation”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The study's measured confounds are sufficient to rule out alternative explanations for the observed relationships between dialogue and outcomes.

    “this is the first large-scale investigation of the relationship between teacher-student dialogue and student outcomes which systematically takes account of relevant confounds.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Policymakers and schools regard the included outcome measures as highly significant.

    “The desirability of including outcome measures that policymakers and hence schools regard as highly significant was a major reason for the study's focus upon Year 6.”
10 of 10

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Consistentt(71.07) = -1.07reported p = .288 · recomputed p = .288

    “t(71.07)=-1.07,p = .288”

  • Consistentt(72.4) = 5.68reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “t(72.40)=5.68, p < .001”

  • Consistentt(70.15) = 2.78reported p = .007 · recomputed p = .007

    “t(70.15)=2.78, p = .007”

  • Consistentt(60.07) = -2.41reported p = .019 · recomputed p = .019

    “t(60.07)=-2.41, p = .019”

  • Consistentt(58.12) = 2.73reported p = .008 · recomputed p = .008

    “t(58.12)=2.73, p = .008”

  • Consistentt(71.57) = 1.98reported p = .051 · recomputed p = .052

    “t(71.57)=1.98, p = .051”

  • Consistentt(62.3) = 2.98reported p = .004 · recomputed p = .004

    “t(62.30)=2.98, p = .004”

  • Consistentt(71.29) = 2.04reported p = .045 · recomputed p = .045

    “t(71.29)=2.04, p = .045”

  • Consistentt(47.48) = 1.98reported p = .053 · recomputed p = .054

    “t(47.48)=1.98, p = .053”

  • Consistentt(59.08) = 2.6reported p = .012 · recomputed p = .012

    “t(59.08)=2.60, p = .012”

  • Consistentt(68.5) = 2.33reported p = .023 · recomputed p = .023

    “t(68.50)=2.33, p = .023”

  • Consistentt(72.88) = 2.53reported p = .014 · recomputed p = .014

    “t(72.88)=2.53, p = .014”

  • Consistentt(71.65) = -2.31reported p = .024 · recomputed p = .024

    “t(71.65)=-2.31, p = .024”

  • Consistentt(59.74) = -2.41reported p = .019 · recomputed p = .019

    “t(59.74)=-2.41, p = .019”

  • Consistentt(67.48) = 3.4reported p = .001 · recomputed p = .001

    “t(67.48)=3.40, p = .001”

  • Consistentt(66.08) = 2.21reported p = .03 · recomputed p = .031

    “t(66.08)=2.21, p = .03”

  • Consistentt(76.13) = 1.98reported p = .052 · recomputed p = .051

    “t(76.13)=1.98, p = .052”

  • Consistentt(74.95) = 2reported p = .049 · recomputed p = .049

    “t(74.95)=2.00, p = .049”

  • Consistentt(79) = -2.05reported p = .044 · recomputed p = .044

    “t(79.00)=-2.05, p = .044”

  • Consistentt(71.67) = 1.97reported p = .052 · recomputed p = .053

    “t(71.67)=1.97, p = .052”

  • Consistentt(71.54) = 5.13reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “t(71.54)=5.13, p < .001”

  • Consistentt(71.88) = -2.9reported p = .005 · recomputed p = .005

    “t(71.88)=-2.90, p = .005”

  • Consistentt(71.56) = -2.24reported p = .028 · recomputed p = .028

    “t(71.56)=-2.24, p = .028”

  • Consistentt(71.5) = 2.3reported p = .024 · recomputed p = .024

    “t(71.50)=2.30, p = .024”

  • Consistentt(71.43) = 1.97reported p = .052 · recomputed p = .053

    “t(71.43)=1.97, p = .052”

  • Consistentt(71.51) = -1.79reported p = .077 · recomputed p = .078

    “t(71.51)=-1.79, p = .077”

26 of 26

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

2 of 2

Citations

Cites

Show all 87 references

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. GL Assessment. (2013). PASS: Pupil attitudes to self and school. London, UK: Author.
  2. 10.1060/09500782.2016.1230127 · DOI
  3. 10.1080/19415257.2016.128653 · DOI
  4. 10.1016/j.lcsi.2015.1.2.001 · DOI
  5. 10.1016/j.learninstruc.2007.09004 · DOI
  6. Mortimer, E. F., & Scott, P. H. (2003). Meaning making in science classrooms. Buckingham, UK: Open University Press.
  7. Sinclair, J. M. H., & Coulthard, M. (1975). Towards an analysis of discourse: The English used by pupils and teachers. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
  8. Vygotsky, L. (1998). The collected works of L. S. Vygotsky. Volume 5: Child psychology. New York, NY: Plenum Press.

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Metadata

Authors
Howe, C., Hennessy, S., Mercer, N., Vrikki, M., & Wheatley, L.
Affiliations
University of Cambridge (GB)
Corresponding author
Howe, Christine
Venue
Journal of the Learning Sciences
Published
2019-03-22
Volume
28
Issue
4-5
Pages
462-512
ISSN
  • 1050-8406 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-7809
OpenAlex
W2938991962
Cited by
425
References
87
Citations by year
2026: 52 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 68 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 5
FWCI
46.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of the Learning Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion)
  • Cambridge University Engineering Department Publications Database (submittedVersion)
  • Apollo
Funders
Economic and Social Research Council of Great Britain
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Communication in Education and Healthcare
  • Social Sciences › Education › Evaluation of Teaching Practices
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
Keywords
teacher-student dialogue, classroom discourse, student outcomes, student participation, curriculum mastery, student reasoning, attitudes toward education, elementary school classrooms, metacognitive engagement

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