Research on the Class-Size and its Effects in Accordance with the Different Modes of Teaching

1990 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 01301034
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Co-operative Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Educaion
• Research Institution: Sophia University
• Principal Investigator: ATO Koji Sophia Univ. Dept. of Ed. Prof., 文学部, 教授 (00000084)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SATO Yu Hokkaido College of Ed. Associate Prof., 教育学部, 助教授 ; ASAMUMA Shigeru Nagoya Univ. School of Education, Associate Professor, 教育学部, 助教授 (30184146) ; YAMADA Kanenao NIER, Dept. III, Head, 評価則定研究室, 室長 (40000070) ; ISHIZAKA Kazuo NIER, Dept. III, Head, 教育課程研究所, 室長 (20099906) ; TAKAURA Katsuyoshi National Institute for Educational Research Dept. III, Head, 教育方法研究室, 室長 (40110093)
• Project Period (FY): 1989 – 1990
• Keywords: learning group / class-size / educational effects / suitable class-size

Research Abstract

Under the main topic the following points were studied :
(1) To know the ideal classーsize the questionnaires were sent to the teachers of the two prefectures. The class-size of 20 to 25 or 26 to 30 are ideal for them though a little differences are recognized among the different levels and subjects they teach.
(2) The test and questionnaire of mathematics were given to the 4th, 5th and 6th graders of the class-sizes of 20,30 and 40. The results of the class-size of 30 were relatively higher than the other two groups.
(3) The test of creativities, Tokyo Shinri S-A test, was given to the 8th graders. The result says that the smaller, the better.
(4) To know the actual class-size of the foreign countries around two hundred teachers were asked to fill up the weekly schedule. The finding is that around twenty students in a class is common in the advanced countries while around forty students in the so-called developing countries.