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Calculate gain and denominator-specific rates

About 14 minutes · 4 reading + 10 practice and checks
Time includes reading, practice, and questions. Extra videos or further study are optional.
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A fictional program evaluation brief with denominator definitions, matched pre/post results, attrition sensitivity, project-rubric evidence, a noncausal conclusion and a next measurement plan.

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What to include

  • Provide a stable dictionary for enrollment, completion, quiz and project measures.
  • Retain all eight enrolled aliases and document matched/missing/exception records.
  • Calculate denominator-specific rates and observed paired gain.
  • Show explicitly hypothetical missing-score bounds and independent project-rubric evidence.
  • Write a descriptive conclusion with causal limits and a next-evidence plan.

Review and revise

Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.

  • All rates and means use the stated cohort or matched subset.
  • Missing and conflicting records are not silently dropped or invented.
  • Quiz and reviewed-project evidence retain their different standards.
  • The conclusion is descriptive and its limitations match the study design.
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Before you begin

The idea in everyday life

Fictional learning program: eight enrolled aliases P1–P8 have baseline scores. Four post-test items score from 0 to 4; the exercise threshold is at least3. Completion means the supplied attendance/submission conditions were met, independently of quiz or project result. P1–P4 completed; their post scores are4,4,3,3 and pre scores2,3,1,2. P5–P8 did not complete and have missing post scores; their pre scores are2,1,0,1. A four-criterion project rubric was reviewed for P1–P4: P1/P3/P4 meet all criteria; P2 needs revision. No comparison group, random assignment or real participant data exists.

The idea

A paired mean compares the same people before and after. A cohort rate answers a different question; label the denominator each time.

Follow along

Calculate gain and denominator-specific rates — supplied practice

A paired mean compares the same people before and after. A cohort rate answers a different question; label the denominator each time.

Fictional learning program: eight enrolled aliases P1–P8 have baseline scores. Four post-test items score from 0 to 4; the exercise threshold is at least3. Completion means the supplied attendance/submission conditions were met, independently of quiz or project result. P1–P4 completed; their post scores are4,4,3,3 and pre scores2,3,1,2. P5–P8 did not complete and have missing post scores; their pre scores are2,1,0,1. A four-criterion project rubric was reviewed for P1–P4: P1/P3/P4 meet all criteria; P2 needs revision. No comparison group, random assignment or real participant data exists.

Fictional eight-learner evidence register

Paste at A1.

AIDBPre score /4CPost score /4DCompleted programEProject review
P124YesPass
P234YesRevise
P313YesPass
P423YesPass
P52MissingNoNot reviewed
P61MissingNoNot reviewed
P70MissingNoNot reviewed
P81MissingNoNot reviewed

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  1. 1. Calculate the matched pre mean

    Add P1–P4 pre scores2+3+1+2 and divide by four.

    You should see: Matched pre total 8 and mean 2.0 out of 4.

    These are the same four people who have post scores.

  2. 2. Calculate matched post and change

    Add4+4+3+3, divide by four, then subtract matched pre mean.

    You should see: Matched post total 14; mean 3.5; mean change+1.5 points.

    Equivalent individual changes2,1,2,1 average1.5.

  3. 3. Calculate cohort completion

    Divide four completed records by eight enrolled and convert to percent.

    You should see: Completion among enrolled is50%.

    The denominator includes known noncompleters.

  4. 4. Report threshold rates

    Count all four observed post scores≥ 3; report4/4 observed100%, and4/8 enrolled50% with demonstrated threshold evidence.

    You should see: Both figures are valid with different labels; four enrolled scores remain unknown.

    Do not use the respondent rate as an all-enrolled pass claim.

Now change one thing

P5 later supplies post score 4. Its baseline is2. What is the five-pair mean change, to one decimal?

Your work

What to finish

A calculation sheet with paired mean change and denominator-specific rates.

Common mistake

Watch for this

Subtracting the all-eight baseline mean from the four-person post mean and calling that paired change.

How can I tell I understand it?

Observed-response and enrolled-evidence rates retain their distinct labels.

Try 3 questions

Quick knowledge check

Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.

Not yet passed

You’ll get an explanation for each answer. Signed in? Your results save to your account.

1What is mean paired score change for the four fictional learners with both scores?
2Which fictional cohort completion rate is correctly labeled?
3All four observed fictional post scores reach3. Which broader claim is supported?
0 of 3 answeredApply the lesson to a short question, then review the explanation.
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Sources and further reading

Explore the references behind this lesson.

Institute of Education Sciences — Program Evaluation Toolkit
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

This official reference supports the mapped concepts. The supplied exercise inputs and operating rules are original fictional practice, not universal legal requirements or qualification evidence.

Access: official search extract of program-evaluation toolkit; fullPDFreadererror on 2026-10-01; external resources are optional.

Reuse: Original fictional teaching and practice; source concepts paraphrased and linked, with no copied provider exercises.

Institute of Education Sciences — Missing Data in Education Research, ERIC record
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

This official reference supports the mapped concepts. The supplied exercise inputs and operating rules are original fictional practice, not universal legal requirements or qualification evidence.

Access: official IES missing-data report metadata/search extract; fullreadererror on 2026-10-01; external resources are optional.

Reuse: Original fictional teaching and practice; source concepts paraphrased and linked, with no copied provider exercises.

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