The Effectiveness of Computer Applications

Abstract

A meta-analysis of 36 independent studies showed that computer applications have a positive effect on students’ academic achievement from elementary school to college. The average effect size from 151 comparisons was .38; this indicates that use of computer applications raised students’ examination scores by .38 standard deviation. Effects differed as a function of the computer study feature. Effect sizes were higher in studies that used Logo programming language, when different teachers taught the experimental and the control group, when treatment was applied in a period of one to two months, and when subjects were selected from high schools.