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

Learning strategies

Overview

  • Influence: Learning strategies
  • Domain: Student Learning Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Learning strategies
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to considerably accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Techniques and strategies that students deploy to complete schoolwork and tests. These skills can include test-taking strategies, time management skills, reading techniques, and note-taking practices.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 22
  • Number of studies: 1,282
  • Number of students: 194,642
  • Number of effects: 1,357
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.72
  • Robustness index: 5

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Dissertation Sanders A meta-analysis: the relationship of program content and operation factors to measured effectiveness of college reading-study programs 1979 Reading-study programs 28 6,140 28 0.37
Review of Educational Research Jacob & Parkinson The potential for school-based interventions that target executive function to improve academic achievement: A review.  2015 Learning strategies on achievement 58 NA 180 0.66
Educational Psychology Review Larwin, Gorman & Larwin Assessing the Impact of Testing Aids on Post-Secondary Student Performance: A Meta-Analytic Investigation 2013 Testing aids (notes, crib sheets, text books) 15 3,146 35 0.34
Asia Pacific Education Review Kim, Kim, Lee, Park, Hong, & Kim Effects of cognitive learning strategies for Korean learners: A meta-analysis 2008 Teaching learning strategies 50 NA 97 0.96
Book Dinsmore, Hattan, & List A meta-analysis of strategy use and performance in the model of domain learning. 2018 Strategic processing 8 NA 8 0.35
Human Resource Management Review Mesmer-Magnus & Viswesvaran The role of pre-training interventions in learning: A meta-analysis and integrative review. 2010 Teaching learning strategies 128 13,684 159 0.62
Intervention in School and Clinic Scruggs, Mastropieri, Berkeley & Graetz Mnemonic strategies: Evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence. 2010 Teaching learning strategies to Secondary LD students 70 2,403 94 1.00
Dissertation Rongtao Metacognitive strategy training and Chinese EFL learners' writing: Meta-analysis 2011 Learning strategies on writing 11 768 11 0.77
Eurasian Journal of Educational Research Yildirim, Cirak-Kurt, & Sen The effect of teaching "learning strategies" on academic achievement: A meta-analysis study 2019 Learning strategies 28 1,641 31 0.93
Report Chaury The effects of strategy instruction on reading comprehension in English as a foreign language 2015 Strategy instruction on reading comprehension 10 865 19 0.60
Asia Pacific Education Review Kim, Kim, Lee, Park, Hong, & Kim Effects of cognitive learning strategies for Korean learners: A meta-analysis 2008 Learning strategies 71 NA 71 0.53
Dissertation Zhang Three Research Topics in Education:(1) Associations between Approaches to Learning and Academic Achievement;(2) a Meta-Analytic Review on Approaches to Learning and Academic Achievement;(3) Power Analysis in Meta-Analysis: A Three-Level Model 2021 Learning approaches 21 69,904 21 0.35
English Language Teaching Alsowat Evidence-Based Practices of English Language Teaching: A Meta-Analysis of Meta-Analyses 2020 Learning strategies 277 22,017 58 0.66
Education and Culture Kim, Ahn, Oh, Yoon, Park, & Choi The Effect of Learning Strategies on Academic Achievement : A Meta-Analysis based on Learner's Characteristics and Intervention Conditions 2018 Learning strategies 71 NA 71 0.53
Journal of Baltic Science Education Yaman & Karasah Effects of learning cycle models on science success: a meta-analysis. 2018 5E Learning cycle program 75 NA 75 1.22
Language learning Plonsky The effectiveness of second language strategy instruction: A meta-analysis. 2011 Learning strategies 61 NA 95 0.49
Hacettepe University Faculty of Education Journal Sari & Oren Impact of research-based learning strategy on students' academic achievements: A meta-analysis study. 2020 Learning strategies 53 3,753 53 0.70
International Journal of Research in Education and Science (discontinued) Bas & Beyhan Revisiting the Effect of Teaching of Learning Strategies on Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analysis of the Findings 2019 Teaching learning strategies 18 994 18 0.89
Behavioral Sciences Li, Xue, Li, & He Investigating latent interactions between students' affective cognition and learning performance: Meta-analysis of affective and cognitive factors.  2023 Learning factors and achievement 98 65,913 74 0.75
International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research Kaur Investigating The Effectiveness of Cognitive Learning Strategies for Learners: A Meta-Analysis. 2023 Cognitive learning strategies 70 NA 98 0.97
Australasian Journal of Educational Technology Chang & Lin Strategy-oriented web-based English instruction—A meta-analysis.  2013 Strategy web-based instruction 31 3,414 31 0.67
Journal of Educational Technology Dogan, Cebenay, & Yaman Effect of the Use of Six Thinking Hats Technique in Education on Academic Achievement: A Mixed-Meta Method Research. 2023 Thinking hats 30 NA 30 1.07
TOTAL/AVERAGE 1,282 194,642 1,357 0.70
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