Effects of Within-Class Grouping on Student Achievement: An Exploratory Model

Abstract

In this meta-analysis, the authors attempted to develop a parsimonious model of factors that account for the significant variability in the findings on the effects of within-class grouping on student achievement. Two weighted least squares regression models were tested using 103 independent findings from 51 studies at elementary through postsecondary grades. Results indicate that the most important study features that accounted for 48% of the total variance include outcome measure source, teacher training equivalence, grouping basis, type of small-group instruction method, grade level, and relative ability of students. Goodness-of-fit statistics indicate that the model fits the data and that the remaining variance may be explained by sampling errors.     

The Surprisingly Modest Relationship Between SES and Educational Achievement

Measures of socioeconomic status (SES) are routinely used in analyses of achievement data to increase statistical power, statistically control for the effects of SES, and enhance causality arguments under the premise that the SES-achievement relationship is moderate to strong. Empirical evidence characterizing the strength of the SES-achievement relationship and its moderators suggests that this relationship is surprisingly modest, with an average SES-achievement correlation of .22, although it appears to have strengthened in the past 3 decades. The modest SES-achievement relationship has important implications for using SES measures in educational data analyses. We provide evidence of this relationship and of the need to use theoretical models to guide the construction and selection of SES measures in analyses of achievement data.     

Identifying facilitating factors and barriers to improving student retention rates in tertiary teaching courses: a systematic review

Factors which impact student retention in tertiary level teaching courses are complex. This study examined facilitating factors and barriers to student retention for students studying education. Due to a limited number of studies, the search was extended to factors impacting students undertaking tertiary education. A systematic review was undertaken using databases such as, ‘Ebscohost’, ‘PsycARTICLES’, ‘Academic One File’, in addition to the University of Melbourne’s ‘Discovery Search’, which resulted in 34 studies meeting the eligibility criteria. The identified factors were first allocated to one of three categories that was identified in previous research as influential on student retention: situational, dispositional, and institutional factors. These three factors were then extended to include sub-factors to more fully define the model of facilitating factors and barriers identified through the systematic review.     

Breaking with Tradition: A Scoping Meta-Analysis Analyzing the Effects of Student-Centered Learning and Computer-Aided Instruction on Student Performance in Anatomy

While prior meta-analyses in anatomy education have explored the effects of laboratory pedagogies and histology media on learner performance, the effects of student-centered learning (SCL) and computer-aided instruction (CAI) have not been broadly evaluated. This research sought to answer the question, “How effective are student-centered pedagogies and CAI at increasing student knowledge gains in anatomy compared to traditional didactic approaches?” Relevant studies published within the past 51 years were searched using five databases. Predetermined eligibility criteria were applied to the screening of titles and abstracts to discern their appropriateness for study inclusion. A summary effect size was estimated to determine the effects of SCL and CAI on anatomy performance outcomes. A moderator analysis of study features was also performed. Of the 3,035 records screened, 327 underwent full-text review. Seven studies, which comprised 1,564 participants, were included in the SCL analysis. An additional 19 studies analyzed the effects of CAI in the context of 2,570 participants. Upon comparing SCL to traditional instruction, a small positive effect on learner performance was detected (standardized mean difference (SMD = 0.24; [CI = 0.07, 0.42]; P = 0.006). Likewise, students with CAI exposure moderately outscored those with limited or no access to CAI (SMD = 0.59; [CI = 0.20, 0.98]; P = 0.003). Further analysis of CAI studies identified effects (P ≤ 0.001) for learner population, publication period, interventional approach, and intervention frequency. Overall, learners exposed to SCL and supplemental CAI outperformed their more classically-trained peers as evidenced by increases in short-term knowledge gains. Anat Sci Educ. © 2018 American Association of Anatomists.     

软件外包项目成功模型研究

由于缺乏对软件外包项目成功概念的清晰全面描述,本文经过文献综述和总结,从客户和供应商双方视角构建出软件外包项目成功的理论模型。模型包括三部分:前端变量—知识学习和服务质量;中间变量—项目绩效和心理绩效;结果变量—组织绩效和关系质量。使用Meta分析对软件外包项目成功因变量进行相关分析,并将Meta分析与SEM相结合(MASEM),对结构模型进行路径分析和拟合分析。本概念模型尝试为软件外包项目成功的研究提供全面综合性视图。     

网络教育技术采纳与扩散研究的元分析

随着教育信息化的发展,网络教育技术的采纳与扩散正日益成为一个人们关注的研究领域,本文通过ERIC、John Wiley、ProQuest、CNKI四大权威电子期刊或硕博论文数据库进行检索并选取研究论文65篇,从理论基础、研究对象、技术环境、研究方法、因变量和自变量等多方面进行了系统的元分析。根据元分析的结果,探讨了该研究领域的发展方向,对未来的研究提出了建议。     

大学体育对心理健康功效研究文献的元分析

主要采用了文献资料法、数理统计法等研究方法对1994-2006年11月大学体育与心理健康的研究文献进行了元分析。旨在弄清13年大学体育与心理健康研究的优势及存在的问题,更好地促进大学体育与心理健康的发展。结果显示:定性研究较多,定量研究(尤其是实验研究)更显不足,研究方法单一,缺乏先进的实验仪器设备和实验手段;大学体育改革的第2阶段以来,研究论文逐渐增加,第3阶段达到高峰期;对综合研究较多,体育专业和具体体育项目对心理健康研究较少,项目之间、专业之间的横向比较研究较少;高职称、高学历、男性、体育核心期刊上发表的定量研究论文多。大学体育对心理健康具有高度显著性水平,平均效应量为中等。     

Exercise and inflammation in coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials

ABSTRACT

Current evidence suggests that chronic inflammation contributes to the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). Interestingly, exercise may constitute a method of reducing inflammation in this patient population. As such, this systematic review and meta-analysis examined the evidence generated by randomised studies that investigated the effect of exercise on inflammatory biomarkers in CAD. Literature was sought from various sources. Outcomes were pooled in a random-effects model to calculate standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Twenty-five studies were reviewed; post-intervention C-reactive protein (SMD: ?0.55 (95% CI: ?0.93, ?0.16), P = 0.005), fibrinogen (SMD: ?0.52 (95% CI: ?0.74, ?0.29, P = <0.00001)), and von Willebrand factor (SMD: ?1.57 (95% CI: ?2.23, ?0.92), P = <0.00001) values were significantly lower in exercise groups compared to controls. In addition, qualitative analyses identified evidence that supports a beneficial effect of exercise on these acute-phase reactants. However, the impact of exercise on anti–inflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules, and chemokines is equivocal, which may be attributed to a paucity of research. Nevertheless, the findings of this review suggest that exercise induces an anti–inflammatory effect in CAD patients. Although, the quality of evidence needs to be improved by further randomised studies with high methodological qualities and large sample sizes.     

网络家庭作业与传统家庭作业学习效果差异元分析

过去三十年,不少研究比较了网络家庭作业与传统家庭作业的学习效果,然而研究结果不一。有研究认为二者差异很大,也有研究认为没有什么差异。为了寻找结果不一致的可能原因,本研究对21篇原始文献进行元分析,涉及42个独立样本,样本总量为6894。元分析结果显示,网络家庭作业与传统家庭作业学习效果存在明显差异:以Hedges’s g为效应值指标,合并效应值为0.523,学生作业表现、期末考试成绩、学生自我感觉三方面的差异效应值分别为0.596、0.217、1.497。两种形式家庭作业之间的学习效果差异受区域、测量方法、科目、教师数量的影响。     

Environmental education program evaluation in the new millennium: what do we measure and what have we learned?

We conducted a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed research studies published between 1999 and 2010 that empirically evaluated the outcomes of environmental education (EE) programs for youth (ages 18 and younger) in an attempt to address the following objectives: (1) to seek reported empirical evidence for what works (or does not) in EE programming and (2) to uncover lessons regarding promising approaches for future EE initiatives and their evaluation. While the review generally supports consensus-based best practices, such as those published in the North American Association for Environmental Education’s Guidelines for Excellence, we also identified additional themes that may drive positive outcomes, including the provision of holistic experiences and the characteristics and delivery styles of environmental educators. Overall, the evidence in support of these themes contained in the 66 articles reviewed is mostly circumstantial. Few studies attempted to empirically isolate the characteristics of programs responsible for measured outcomes. We discuss general trends in research design and the associated implications for future research and EE programming.