ERIC Number: EJ1249514
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Apr
Pages: 48
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0034-6543
EISSN: N/A
The Effects of Writing on Learning in Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics: A Meta-Analysis
Graham, Steve; Kiuhara, Sharlene A.; MacKay, Meade
Review of Educational Research, v90 n2 p179-226 Apr 2020
This meta-analysis examined if students writing about content material in science, social studies, and mathematics facilitated learning (k = 56 experiments). Studies in this review were true or quasi-experiments (with pretests), written in English, and conducted with students in Grades 1 to 12 in which the writing-to-learn activity was part of instruction. Studies were not included if the control condition used writing to support learning (except when treatment students spent more time engaging in writing-to-learn activities), study attrition exceeded 20%, instructional time and content coverage differed between treatment and control conditions, pretest scores approached ceiling levels, letter grades were the learning outcome, and students attended a special school for students with disabilities. As predicted, writing about content reliably enhanced learning (effect size = 0.30). It was equally effective at improving learning in science, social studies, and mathematics as well as the learning of elementary, middle, and high school students. Writing-to-learn effects were not moderated by the features of writing activities, instruction, or assessment. Furthermore, variability in obtained effects were not related to features of study quality. Directions for future research and implications for practice are provided.
Descriptors: Content Area Writing, Instructional Effectiveness, Elementary School Students, Middle School Students, High School Students, Learning Activities, Science Education, Social Studies, Mathematics Education, Educational Research, Writing Exercises, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany; Italy
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A