This research investigation examined the effects of Singapore’s Model Method, also known as
“model drawing” or “bar modeling” on the word problem-solving performance of thrid and
fourth grade students. Employing a single-case design, a researcher-designed teaching
intervention was delivered to a child in third grade over the course of 8 teaching sessions.
Using researcher-designed assessment probes, repeated measures of the dependent variable
(percentage of problems solved correctly) were taken throughout the experiment through three
different phases: baseline, intervention, and maintenance. The desgign was repeated across four
different third and fourth grade participants. The results demonstrated the existence of a
positive functional relationship between the independent variable (the model drawing
intervention) and the participant’s problem-solving performance. The percentage of problems
solved correctly rose significantly as soon as the intervention phase began and the child
employed Singapore’s Model Method in solving complex word problems. The pattern was
repeated across two different problem types, multiplicative comparison word problems and
fraction word problems. The validity of the findings was strengthened considerably when the
results showed a very similar functional relationship across four different subjects in grades 3
and 4. The existence of a funcional relationship between model drawing and word problem
performance has implications for research, policy and teaching practice in elementary
mathematics education. Limitations of this study as well as implications will be discussed.