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

Audio / visual methods

Overview

  • Influence: Audio / visual methods
  • Domain: Technology, School, and Out-of-School Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Other ICT
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Technologies projecting sound and image are often used in classrooms as a means of communicating information to students

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 9
  • Number of studies: 487
  • Number of students: 5,135
  • Number of effects: 359
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.29
  • Robustness index: 3

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Research in Higher Education Kulik, Kulik & Cohen Research on audio-tutorial instruction: A meta-analysis of comparative studies 1979 Audio-based teaching 42 NA 42 0.20
ECTJ Cohen, Ebeling, & Kulik A meta-analysis of outcome studies of visual-based instruction 1981 Visual based instruction 65 NA 65 0.15
Journal of Research in Science Teaching Willett, Yamashita & Anderson A Meta-Analysis of Instructional Systems Applied in Science Teaching 1983 Visual aids in science 130 NA 100 0.02
Learning and Instruction Ginns Meta-analysis of the modality effect 2005 Text presented in auditory rather than visual format 43 NA 43 0.72
Learning and Instruction Ginns Meta-analysis of the modality effect 2005 Spatial & temporal contiguity 50 2,375 50 0.85
Education Technology and Research development Schwalb, Schwalb, & Azuma Educational Technology in the Japanese Schools: A Meta-Analysis of Findings 1986 Audio-based teaching in Japan 104 NA 6 0.09
Perceptual and Motor Skills Blanchard, Stock & Marshall Meta-Analysis of Research on a Multimedia Elementary School Curriculum Using Personal and Video-Game Computers 1999 Multi medium using personal and video-game computers 10 2,760 10 0.16
International Journal of Instructional Media Baker & Dwyer A meta-analytic assessment of the effect of visualized instruction 2000 Use of visual aids in learning 8 NA 8 0.71
Universal Journal of Educational Research Turgut & Turgut The Effects of Visualization on Mathematics Achievement in Reference to Thesis Studies Conducted in Turkey: A Meta-Analysis.  2018 Visualization in math 35 NA 35 0.81
TOTAL/AVERAGE 487 5,135 359 0.41
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