Technology and Student Achievement: What do 40 Years of Research and 25 Years of Systematic Reviews Have to Tell
Abstract: This research involved a systematic quantitative synthesis procedure to answer the question: does technology use affect student achievement in formal face-to-face classroom settings as compared to traditional settings. An extensive literature search followed by a systematic review process resulted in the inclusion of 25 meta-analyses with minimal overlap in primary literature, resulting in 25 reported average effect sizes. The meta-analyses incorporated 1055 primary studies (approximately 109,700 participants). The weighted mean effect-size of 0.32 was significantly different from zero. Results reflected high heterogeneity. Subsequent moderator analyses revealed that higher methodological quality meta-analyses and more inclusive ones regarding covered literature and research designs were associated with lower average effect-sizes. Results represent a medium strength effect-size, favoring technology utilization. Insights about the state of the field and future recommendations are discussed.