# Data from the Effects of Congruent and Incongruent Perceptual Cues on Middle Schoolers’ Mathematical Performance, Learning, and Retention Study

## TL;DR

This study provides data on how perceptual cues like spacing and color affect middle school students' math learning and performance.

## Contribution

The paper introduces new datasets from a randomized trial on perceptual cues in math education.

## Key findings

- The datasets include data from 1,100 sixth-grade students in a U.S. school district.
- Perceptual cues were tested for their effects on mathematical performance and retention.
- Data is available for studying perceptual learning and instructional design in math.

## Abstract

This paper presents datasets for a research project that investigated the individual and combined effects of two perceptual cues—spacing and color—under varying conditions of congruence with the order of operations. The datasets contain 1,100 6th-grade students’ data collected through a randomized controlled trial conducted in 2024 in a U.S. school district. All de-identified intervention data are openly available on the Open Science Framework. Additional datasets, including student demographics and assessment data, require a data sharing agreement. The data can be used by researchers interested in understanding perceptual learning mechanisms and improving online instructional materials for middle school mathematics.