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Measures Matter: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Educational Apps on Preschool to Grade 3 Children's Literacy and Math Skills

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Title: Measures Matter: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Educational Apps on Preschool to Grade 3 Children's Literacy and Math Skills
Language: English
Authors: Kim, James (ORCID 0000-0002-6415-5496), Gilbert, Joshua, Yu, Qun, Gale, Charles
Source: AERA Open. Jan-Dec 2021 7(1).
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2021
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Early Childhood Education
Grade 1
Primary Education
Grade 2
Grade 3
Preschool Education
Kindergarten
Descriptors: Meta Analysis, Measures (Individuals), Educational Technology, Handheld Devices, Preschool Children, Elementary School Students, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Preschool Education, Literacy, Mathematics Skills, Effect Size, Academic Achievement, Instructional Effectiveness, Kindergarten
ISSN: 2332-8584
Abstract: Thousands of educational apps are available to students, teachers, and parents, yet research on their effectiveness is limited. This meta-analysis synthesized findings from 36 intervention studies and 285 effect sizes evaluating the effectiveness of educational apps for preschool to Grade 3 children and the moderating role of methodological, participant, and intervention characteristics. Using random effects meta-regression with robust variance estimation, we summarized the overall impact of educational apps and examined potential moderator effects. First, results from rigorous experimental and quasi-experimental studies yielded a mean weighted effect size of +0.31 standard deviations on overall achievement and comparable effects in both math and literacy. Second, the positive overall effect masks substantial variability in app effectiveness, as meta-regression analyses revealed three significant moderators of treatment effects. Treatment effects were larger for studies involving preschool rather than K-3 students, for studies using researcher-developed rather than standardized outcomes, and for studies measuring constrained rather than unconstrained skills.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2022
Accession Number: EJ1323865
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Measures Matter: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Educational Apps on Preschool to Grade 3 Children's Literacy and Math Skills
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+James%22">Kim, James</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6415-5496">0000-0002-6415-5496</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gilbert%2C+Joshua%22">Gilbert, Joshua</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yu%2C+Qun%22">Yu, Qun</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gale%2C+Charles%22">Gale, Charles</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22AERA+Open%22"><i>AERA Open</i></searchLink>. Jan-Dec 2021 7(1).
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
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  Data: 19
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  Data: 2021
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+1%22">Grade 1</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Primary+Education%22">Primary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+2%22">Grade 2</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+3%22">Grade 3</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Kindergarten%22">Kindergarten</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Meta+Analysis%22">Meta Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Measures+%28Individuals%29%22">Measures (Individuals)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Technology%22">Educational Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Handheld+Devices%22">Handheld Devices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+1%22">Grade 1</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+2%22">Grade 2</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+3%22">Grade 3</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literacy%22">Literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematics+Skills%22">Mathematics Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Effect+Size%22">Effect Size</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Achievement%22">Academic Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22">Instructional Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kindergarten%22">Kindergarten</searchLink>
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  Data: 2332-8584
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Thousands of educational apps are available to students, teachers, and parents, yet research on their effectiveness is limited. This meta-analysis synthesized findings from 36 intervention studies and 285 effect sizes evaluating the effectiveness of educational apps for preschool to Grade 3 children and the moderating role of methodological, participant, and intervention characteristics. Using random effects meta-regression with robust variance estimation, we summarized the overall impact of educational apps and examined potential moderator effects. First, results from rigorous experimental and quasi-experimental studies yielded a mean weighted effect size of +0.31 standard deviations on overall achievement and comparable effects in both math and literacy. Second, the positive overall effect masks substantial variability in app effectiveness, as meta-regression analyses revealed three significant moderators of treatment effects. Treatment effects were larger for studies involving preschool rather than K-3 students, for studies using researcher-developed rather than standardized outcomes, and for studies measuring constrained rather than unconstrained skills.
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  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2022
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  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: EJ1323865
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Meta Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Measures (Individuals)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Handheld Devices
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 1
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 2
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 3
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Literacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mathematics Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Effect Size
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Kindergarten
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Measures Matter: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Educational Apps on Preschool to Grade 3 Children's Literacy and Math Skills
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            NameFull: Kim, James
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            NameFull: Gilbert, Joshua
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            NameFull: Yu, Qun
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            NameFull: Gale, Charles
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              Y: 2021
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              Value: 2332-8584
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