Efficacy & Research

Pearson’s commitment to helping our learners achieve all they can is at the heart of our company. We are proud to introduce our Efficacy Reports that detail how our products impact our learners’ lives.

Our commitment to efficacy

In 2013, Pearson made a commitment to efficacy: to identify the outcomes that matter most to students and educators, and apply evidence-based approaches to product design and development so we could have a greater impact on improving those outcomes.

To Pearson, efficacy is more than a reporting commitment. It is even more than a way to improve our products. Efficacy is a priority for everyone at Pearson. Applying outcomes-focused, evidence-based design to our products, so that they can be used to help more learners learn more, is at the heart of who we are, what we do — and of our vision for the future of learning.

In April 2018 we published our first set of efficacy reports that have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Together, the products covered in these reports affect the lives of 18 million learners. We are proud to be the only learning company committed to efficacy with such rigor and at such scale.

Download Pearson’s audited Efficacy reports

Benefits for customer and learner

Identifying the outcomes that matter most to students and educators and applying evidence-based approaches to product design informs how we plan, design, develop, and improve our products, and how we engage with and support our customers and learners.

Learn more about Pearson’s efficacy and research capabilities

Reporting on efficacy

In an effort to ensure transparency about how we conduct our research, and to give external assurance about the kinds of statements we make, we have subjected our Efficacy Reports to an external audit. Our research has also been subjected to peer-review, which means that an expert, external research organisation has reviewed the research to ensure it meets academic research standards.

Learn more about Pearson’s approach to efficacy reporting

Impacting reading outcomes

A comprehensive study was conducted to compare the reading progress of learners using Vuma English First Additional Language with learners not using Vuma at a school in KwaZulu-Natal.

The results of the study highlight the effectiveness of using the Vuma Reading Instruction Programme in South African classrooms.