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

Character / positive programs

Overview

  • Influence: Character / positive programs
  • Domain: Curricula
  • Sub-Domain: Other curricula programs
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have positive impact
  • Influence Definition: Includes activities and experiences aiming to foster positive character development and the associated core ethical values.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 6
  • Number of studies: 190
  • Number of students: 139,391
  • Number of effects: 992
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.27
  • 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
Dissertation Berg Values-Based Character Education: A Meta-Analysis of Program Effects on Student Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors 2003 Character Ed programs on knowledge 29 27,064 29 0.20
Psychology in the Schools Lee & Gage Updating and expanding systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the effects of school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports 2020 Positive behavior programs 13 NA 31 0.23
Cakrawala Pendidikan Khadijah, Suciati, Khaerani, Manaf, & Sutamrin Schools' character education values and students' mathematics learning achievement: A meta-analysis. 2021 Character Ed programs 16 1,006 16 0.96
Journal of Social Issues Wu, Spreckelsen, & Cohen A meta-analysis of the effect of values affirmation on academic achievement. 2021 Values affirmation 58 NA 58 0.15
Journal of Moral Education Brown, McGrath, Bier, Johnson, & Berkowitz A comprehensive meta-analysis of character education programs.  2022 Character Ed programs 10 14,361 10 0.24
Dissertation Johnson A Preliminary Meta-Analysis of Character Education Research 2021 Character Education 64 96,960 848 0.25
TOTAL/AVERAGE 190 139,391 992 0.34
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