This study tested the theory of social interdependence by examining the impact of cooperative
learning (CL) in comparison to traditional instructional methods (identified in this study as non-cooperative
learning, NCL) on 12 course learning environment factors, learning outcomes, and overall excellence of
instruction and courses. It also investigated the relationship of 12 course learning environment factors on
learning outcomes and overall excellence of instruction and courses. This study was conducted at a small
rural comprehensive community college and utilized over 3000 student ratings of instruction as the primary
data. The IDEA Center student rating form (IDEA Center, 1998b) was used to measure these variables. The
Questionnaire on the Use of Cooperative Learning (Cooperative Learning Center, 1991) was used to
identify faculty who taught courses integrating cooperative learning (CL) and those not integrating
cooperative learning (NCL).
Quasi-experimental representative design guided the investigation of an experimental group
(students in CL courses) and a comparison group (students in NCL courses) comparing course learning
environment factors, learning outcomes, and overall excellence of instruction and courses. Student ratings
of CL courses were significantly higher than NCL courses on learning outcomes (p-value of .007).
Additionally, CL courses were significantly higher than NCL courses on 10 of 12 course learning
environment factors and learning outcomes. Six of these ten variables were significant at the .01 level. The
difference between student ratings of CL and NCL courses on overall excellence was marginal (p-value of
.042). The most significant finding was the impact of course learning environment factors on learning
outcomes and overall excellence of instruction and courses, each with p-values of .000. A large portion of
the variance in student ratings of learning outcomes (82%) and overall excellence of instruction and courses
(88%) could be attributed to the course learning environment factors. This study was one of the first to
extensively examine the theory of social interdependence through the impact of cooperative learning on
student ratings in a community college. It also investigated how course learning environment factors
impacted student ratings of learning outcomes and the overall excellence of instruction and courses.