The Effect of the Project-Based Learning Approach on the Academic Achievements of the Students in Science Classes in Turkey: A Meta-Analysis Study
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In this research, the study of the meta-analysis is conducted to identify that the project-based learning approach affects the academic achievements of the students in science classes. Therefore, related literature of studies done in Turkey is reviewed. Master, doctoral dissertations and articles (between 2002 and 2013), related to the research problem and having statistical data about the study of the meta-analysis, are analysed by scanning from national and international database in Turkish and English. There are 41 studies including the sample about the effects of the project-based learning on the academic achievements of the students in science classes. 42 effect size values were obtained from these studies. The result of the meta-analysis shows that the project-based learning approach is more effective than traditional teaching methods about the academic achievements of the students in science classes. The effect size of the Project-based learning approach, between 0,777-1,218 confidence interval, has been found 0,997 (%95 CI, SE=0,112) about the academic achievements of the students in science classes by using random effect model. This value is moderate level to Cohen, Manion and Morrison’s the classification of the effect size (2007). Among the studies that are included in this study, 39 of 42 studies have positive, 3 of 42 studies have negative effect size value. Intermediate variables (moderator) analyses have been done at meta analysis studies, natural sciences, education levels, sample size, application time, used methods and types of publications. In these studies that have positive effect value; three of them are at poor, five of them are at modest, eleven of them are at moderate and twenty of them are at strong effect size level. As a result of analysis done by the intermediate variables the highest effect sizes have been observed at high school degree (ES=1,536), in physics (ES=1,046) and between 1-20 lesson hours (ES=1,203). The highest effect size in all variables has been observed at high school degree (ES=1,536). At the end of the study; according to the results of the research, there are some recommendations for the researchers and instructors.
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Other meta-analysis studies found that the effect of the project-based learning model (PjBL) on academic achievement is better than conventional learning models.
“In addition, other metaanalysis studies also found that the effect of the project-based learning model (PjBL) on academic achievement is better than conventional learning models (Chen et al., 2019; Ayaz et al., 2015; Baleman et al., 2018).”
From Integration of Blended Learning and Project-Based Learning (BPjBL) on Achievement of Students’ learning goals: A Meta-analysis study (2023) · cites this paper as Ayaz et al., 2015
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A study of the impact of project-based learning on student learning effects: a meta-analysis study
Zhang, L., & Ma, Y. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1202728 · Cited by 455 · see citing works
(2023) · Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction · doi:10.47750/pegegog.13.04.32 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
- Authors
- Ayaz, M., & Söylemez, M.
- Affiliations
- Dicle University (TR)
- Venue
- Education and Science
- Publisher
- Turkish Education Association
- Published
- 2015-05-03
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 178
- Pages
- 255-283
- ISSN
- 1300-1337 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1667493492
- Cited by
- 57
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 1.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- TED EĞİTİM VE BİLİM (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Turkish Education Association - Journal of Education and Science (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Problem and Project Based Learning
- Social Sciences › Education › Science Education and Pedagogy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
- Keywords
- project-based learning, academic performance, science education, effect size, traditional teaching methods, high school students, physics education, Turkish education
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