Meta-analysis was used to conduct an integrative review of the research on modifying attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Prior reviews, using small samples and lacking systematic data collection and analysis, were unable to draw firm conclusions about the effectiveness of attitude modification techniques. In the hope of correcting these…

Smith et al. (1980) analyzed 475 psychotherapy studies and concluded that individuals receiving treatment were better off than 80 percent of the untreated control groups. These studies were criticized on methodological grounds, particularly for failing to enable calculation of an index of effect size. To address these methodological issues, 20…

A meta-analysis was conducted on 44 educational studies that used either a (labelled) Hawthorne control group, a manipulation of Hawthorne effects, or a group designed to control for the Hawthorne effect. The sample included published journal articles, ERIC documents or unpublished papers, and dissertations. The studies were coded on 20 variables,…

A meta-analysis examines studies concerned with the effects of vocabulary instruction on the learning of word meanings and on comprehension. It is concluded that vocabulary instruction has a significant effect on the comprehension of passages containing taught words, but significant effects are not found with all teaching methods. (Author/LMO)

The Bayesian inferential process is modified for use in an aggregate meta-analytic evaluation. Compared with the average effect size meta-analytic approach, the Bayesian approach was more sensitive, more consistent and more powerful. This approach is recommended when primary data are not available and when all evaluations involve comparisons of…

This paper compares and summarizes empirical research on the outcomes of outdoor education (OE) and related programs. Most frequently, OE outcomes have been researched using post-program surveys of staff and participant attitudes. Such reports are vulnerable to many potential distortions. A second major approach to examining OE effectiveness…

Maintains that it is important to distinguish theory testing from effect-size evaluation when considering the impact of mothering on attachment security. Contends that it is possible that the De Wolff and van IJzendoorn meta-analysis both over- and underestimates mothering effects, as would be the case if infants varied in their susceptibility to…

Used meta analysis to test predictions from psychoanalytic, parental investment, and differential socialization theories regarding gender differences in ability to resist temptation. Found that although females showed more restraint than males with a very small effect size, there were appreciable differences on forbidden-object tasks and very…

A meta-analysis of studies conducted between 1974 and mid-1987 on sex differences in mathematical tasks is presented. Methods used include estimations of: (1) parameters for a random effects model, and (2) coefficients for a linear-regression equation, all based on effect sizes calculated from each study. Differences have been decreasing. (TJH)

Describes results of meta-analysis of 63 group sensitivity training studies, which revealed a moderate size, heterogeneous effect on all outcome measures, including a significantly larger effect on behavioral measures than on self-report measures. Interventions involving larger groups and number of sessions had larger effect sizes, as did studies…

A meta-analysis including 96 experimental studies considers the effects of reinforcement/reward on intrinsic motivation. Results indicate that reward does not decrease intrinsic motivation, although interaction effects must be examined. An analysis with five studies also indicates that reinforcement does not harm intrinsic motivation. (SLD)

This study used meta-analyses to evaluate the relative effectiveness of a variety of educational interventions with students who have disabilities. A graph of average effect sizes for 18 interventions shows the demonstrated effectiveness of mnemonic training, reading comprehension instruction, behavior modification, direct instruction,…

Performed a meta-analysis of 22 wilderness challenge programs to assess impact on delinquent behavior. The overall effect size for delinquency outcomes (0.18) was equivalent to a recidivism rate of 29% for program participants versus 37% for nonparticipants. Greatest reductions in delinquent behavior came with intense physical activities or…

Meta-analyses were performed on 12 studies of treatment with sex offenders (n=1,313). A small, but robust, overall effect size was found for treatment versus comparison conditions. Cognitive-behavioral and hormonal treatments were significantly more effective than behavioral treatments but were not significantly different from each other. (JPS)

D. Mason and R. Burns (1996) have concluded that multigrade classes have a slightly negative effect on students' achievement. However, a reanalysis, based on meta-analytic procedures, of the available studies shows the average weighted effect sizes to be essentially zero or close to zero. Contains 51 references. (SLD)