Virginia L Walker, Yun-Ching Chung
Augmentative and Alternative Communication in an Elementary School Setting: A Case Study
Language, speech, and hearing services in schools
sustaining environments hypothesis refers popular idea stemming theories developmental cognitive educational psychology longterm success early educational interventions contingent quality subsequent learning environment several studies investigated whether specific kindergarten classroom elementary school factors account patterns persistence fadeout early educational interventions analyses focus statistical interaction early educational intervention usually whether child attended preschool several measures quality subsequent educational environment key prediction sustaining environments hypothesis positive interaction two variables quantify strength evidence effects metaanalyze existing studies attempted estimate interactions preschool later educational quality united states attempt establish consistency direction plausible range estimates interaction preschool attendance subsequent educational quality using specification curve analysis large nationally representative dataset used several recent studies sustaining environments hypothesis metaanalysis yields small positive interaction estimates ranging approximately 00 04 depending specification specification curve analyses yield interaction estimates approximately 0 results suggest current mix methods used test sustaining environments hypothesis cannot reliably detect realistically sized effects recommendations combine large sample sizes strong causal identification strategies study combinations interventions strong probability showing large main effects