The Effects Of Looping On Student Achievement And Self-efficacy Of Exceptional Education Students

The focus of the current study was to examine the effects of looping on academic achievement and self-efficacy for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students. The basic design of this study was causal comparative, or ex post facto, because the researcher was seeking to identify a difference in achievement based on developmental scale scores between the two groups of looping and non-looping students with ESE classifications. A retrospective causal comparative study was chosen because the researcher began with a potential cause, looping, and studied the potential effects on achievement and self efficacy. The hypotheses were that the experimental group would outperform the control group on student achievement measures in reading and math as a result of participation in the looping classroom. In addition, it was hypothesized that the experimental group would outperform the control group on measures of self-efficacy and that there would be a correlation between reading and math developmental scale scores and self-efficacy scores. Results indicated no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups on measures of achievement in reading and math. Additionally, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups on measures of self-efficacy. However, moderate and statistically significant relationships were found between self-efficacy scores and reading and math development, respectively. The findings of this study indicate further research may be warranted to explore the benefits of looping in providing a more positive environment for students\u27 emotional growth