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 |
| 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 |
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