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

Positive ethnicity self-identity

Overview

  • Influence: Positive ethnicity self-identity
  • Domain: Student
  • Sub-Domain: Physical influences
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have positive impact
  • Influence Definition: Ethnic identity is defined as a sense of belonging based on one's ancestry, cultural heritage, values, traditions, rituals, and often language and religion.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 5
  • Number of studies: 116
  • Number of students: 21,561
  • Number of effects: 156
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.20
  • Robustness index: 2

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Conference paper Allen, Bradford, Grimes, Cooper, Howard, & Howard Racial Group Orientation and Social Outcomes: Summarizing Relationships Using Meta-Analysis 1999 Positive view of own ethnicity 9 2,661 9 0.32
Developmental Review Miller-Cotto & Byrnes Ethnic/racial identity and academic achievement: A meta-analytic review 2016 Ethnic identity 47 NA 87 0.17
Psychological Bulletin Lui Intergenerational cultural conflict, mental health, and educational outcomes among Asian and Latino/a Americans: Qualitative and meta-analytic review 2015 Intergenerational cultural conflict 8 14,307 8 0.18
Child development Rivas-Drake, Syed, Umaña-Taylor, Markstrom, French, Schwartz, & Lee Feeling good, happy, and proud: A meta-analysis of positive ethnic–racial affect and adjustment 2014 Ethnic-racial identity 13 4,593 13 0.35
Journal of Social Issues Wu, Spreckelsen, & Cohen Journal of Social Issues. 2021 Identity vs non-identity threatened students 39 NA 39 0.15
TOTAL/AVERAGE 116 21,561 156 0.23
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