The Science Behind Peer Tutoring

What’s special about peer tutoring? Is it really that effective? Is it worth pursuing in the modern system of education? This page consolidates all of the scientific literature on this subject.

  1. Studies show that peer tutoring has resulted in about a 28% increase in academic confidence and that students who participate in peer tutoring are noticeably more comfortable on assessments.

  2. Peer tutoring has been shown to boost test scores by an average of 12%, with some studies reporting increases up to 36%. Overall, there is compelling evidence that peer tutoring does, in fact, lead to improved understanding.

  3. As a result of peer tutoring, there is a huge improvement with respect to knowledge, comprehension, and application levels of the cognitive domain (critical thinking, problem solving, and creating a knowledge base): with authors reporting that "peer tutoring is an effective strategy for improving academic learning at the knowledge level of the cognitive domain."

  4. The success of peer tutoring likely lies in the incorporated instructional features such as frequent opportunities to respond, increased time on task, and regular and immediate feedback.

  5. Peer tutoring has shown to improve the generation of new knowledge and the identification of gaps in existing knowledge. Students are able to assimilate better and are able to reinforce their understanding.

  6. Scientists believe that peer tutoring may significantly support the long-term retention of knowledge - with studies showing that peer instruction has led to about a 28% increase in correcting false knowledge.

References

[1] Brasser, Christine. “THE EFFECT OF PEER TUTORING INFLUENCING STUDENTS’ SCIENCE PERFORMANCE ON ASSESSMENTS AND THEIR SELF-EFFICACY.” Montana State University, 2020.

[2] Ullah, Irfan, et al. “Effects of peer tutoring on the academic achievement of students in the subject of biology at secondary level.” Education Sciences, vol. 8, no. 3, 3 Aug. 2018, p. 112, https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci8030112.

[3] Bowman-Perrott, Lisa, et al. “Academic benefits of peer tutoring: A meta-analytic review of single-case research.” School Psychology Review, vol. 42, no. 1, 1 Mar. 2013, pp. 39–55, https://doi.org/10.1080/02796015.2013.12087490.

[4] Wolfe, Bridgett. “THE IMPACT OF A PEER-TUTORING MODEL ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY STUDENTS.” University of South Carolina, 2018.

[5] Tullis, Jonathan G., and Robert L. Goldstone. “Why does peer instruction benefit student learning?” Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, vol. 5, no. 1, 9 Apr. 2020, https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-020-00218-5.