Learning Outcomes
Our analysis of the experimental data is straightforward.
We compare the outcomes for students randomly assigned
to the traditional format to the outcomes for students randomly
assigned to the hybrid format. In a small number
of cases—4 percent of the 605 students in the study—participants
attended a different format section than the one to
which they were randomly assigned. In order to preserve the
randomization procedure, we associated students with the
educationnext.org S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 / EDUCATION NEXT 61
research
HYBRID LEARNING BOWEN, CHINGOS, LACK & NYGREN
We examine the impact of assignment to the hybrid format, relative to
the traditional format, on students’ probability of passing the course, their
performance on a standardized test of statistics, and their score on a set
of final-exam questions. We find no clear differences in learning outcomes.
section type to which they were randomly assigned. This is
sometimes called an “intent to treat” analysis, but in this case
it makes little practical difference because the vast majority
of students complied with their initial assignment.