Study effect meta-analysis was used to synthesize the results of explicit instruction on critical thinking (CT). The approach involved the collection of 250 studies (books, articles, dissertations, and abstracts) from the ERIC database and "Dissertation Abstracts International", coding of the study features, calculation of effect sizes,…

A synthesis of findings from 38 studies on group-based applications of mastery learning strategies are presented. Meta-analytic procedures were used to combine the results of the studies and to calculate overall estimates of the effects of group-based applications. Results show that such applications yield consistently positive effects on both…

Meta-analysis is a technique for combining the summary statistics from previously conducted research studies to indicate the direction of results and provide an index of the magnitude of effect size. This paper focuses on the effect of the violation of the assumption of independence (that the value of any included statistic is in no way…

This article discusses the circumstances under which unequal sample size in the two-group study can arise and result in an attenuated point-biserial correlation. Formulas are provided for correcting the coefficient either directly or through the mediation of relevant statistics found in studies where the coefficient itself is not reported.…

This paper is concerned with the construction of effect size standard errors in situations where the effect sizes are independent but the data have likely been sampled from non-normal distributions, and possibly for different studies, from different families of non-normal distributions. Asymptotic distribution-free estimators are provided for two…

The effects of within-class grouping on student achievement and other outcomes were quantitatively integrated using one set of 145 effect sizes exploring grouping versus no grouping and a set of 20 effect sizes related to homogeneous versus heterogeneous ability grouping. Overall, results favored homogeneous grouping. (SLD)

Meta analysis techniques were used to synthesize research on teaching students how to control variables when designing an experiment. The review included 65 controlled studies. Findings are reported in terms of the influence on effect sizes of characteristics of the study, instruments used, treatments applied, and results' utilities. (SLD)

Discussion of the effects of instruction on the attitudes of nurses focuses on a meta analysis of studies that examined effects of visual media in attitude formation or attitude change in nursing education. Criteria used to guide the selection of studies included are explained, and implications for instructional design are discussed. (76…

The use of statistical methods to combine the results of independent empirical research studies (metanalysis) has a long history, with work mainly divided into tests of the statistical significance of combined results and methods for combining estimates across studies. Methods of metanalysis and their applications are reviewed. (SLD)

Meta-analysis of 143 effect sizes in 43 studies of adventure programming for adolescents found an overall effect size of 0.31. Summary effect sizes of outcome categories differed significantly among categories, however. Effect size was related to program length and participant age but not to delinquent status. Discusses the lack of pertinent…

This meta-analysis reviewed 58 effect sizes from 40 reports on the instructional effects of feedback in tests or similar situations. Mediated instructional feedback for retrieval and application of specific knowledge appeared to stimulate correction of erroneous responses when its reception was encouraged. (SLD)

This study used meta-analytic procedures to examine experimental research literature about the effectiveness of telecourses in distance education for adult and higher education. Discusses the use of weighted effect size analysis procedures; experiments that used video and either one-way or two-way audio; and instructional features that impacted…

Presents results of a meta-analysis conducted on the literature concerning the effects of feedback on learning from computer-based instruction. Effect size, analysis of variance, multiple regression, and posttest data are described, and the critical role of feedback in computerized instruction is discussed. Contains 50 references. (Author/LRW)

Researchers have suggested the presence of a self-serving attributional bias, with people making more internal, stable, and global attributions for positive events than for negative events. This study examined the magnitude, ubiquity, and adaptiveness of this bias. The authors conducted a meta-analysis of 266 studies, yielding 503 independent…

Heppner, Witty, and Dixon's review of 2 decades of research on the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) provides highlights of more than 120 studies relating problem-solving appraisal to psychological adjustment, physical health, coping, and educational and vocational issues. Although clearly an impressive body of literature, the level of data reported…