Science Education for Students with Specific Learning Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64782/istlj.318222-40Keywords:
Meta-analysis, Science education, Special education, Learning disabilitiesHighlights
- A strong effect of science education interventions was identified
- Implementation and measurement variations were detected
- Measurement types reveal stronger outcomes in long-term learning
- Publication bias analyses indicate that the results are reliable and consistent
- Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that the findings are robust
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the overall effect size of applied teaching methods on students' learning outcomes by examining the results of experimental studies conducted in the field of science education for students with specific learning disabilities using a meta-analysis method. A total of 10 studies and 20 effect sizes were analyzed within the scope of the meta-analysis. These effects were obtained from studies published in different years, and each study reported the sample sizes and measurement results for the experimental and control groups. The outcome variables examined in the studies included various learning outcomes such as immediate test, delayed test, delayed recall, diagram test, vocabulary learning, and science vocabulary. These variables were also used in moderator analyses. R software and the Metaphor package were used for data analysis. A random-effects model was applied, and heterogeneity was examined using the Q statistic and I² value. Moderator analyses were performed. The meta-analysis results showed that science education interventions for students with specific learning disabilities had a significant effect (g ≈ 1.06). Heterogeneity was found to be high (I² ≈ 81%). The year of publication was not a factor, but the types of measurement did affect the effect. Publication bias reviews revealed that the findings were reliable. The interventions were found to be effective in improving students' academic achievement, but it was also noted that the literature was very old and limited.
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