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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Dialect use

Overview

  • Influence: Dialect use
  • Domain: Student
  • Sub-Domain: Physical influences
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have a negative impact
  • Influence Definition: A student's use of a non-majority dialect.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 1
  • Number of studies: 19
  • Number of students: 1,947
  • Number of effects: 19
  • Weighted mean effect size: -0.61
  • Robustness index: 1

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research Gatlin & Wanzek Relations Among Children's Use of Dialect and Literacy Skills: A Meta-Analysis 2015 Dialect use and literacy, reading, spelling & writing 19 1,947 19 -0.61
TOTAL/AVERAGE 19 1,947 19 -0.61
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