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Version 1.3 – Updated November 2024

Problem-based learning

Overview

  • Influence: Problem-based learning
  • Domain: Teaching Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Instructional strategies
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: In problem-based learning scenarios, students (often in groups) decide what they need to learn to resolve a particular problem or questions. The aim is also to promote critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 31
  • Number of studies: 1,064
  • Number of students: 105,196
  • Number of effects: 1,545
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.53
  • Robustness index: 5

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author First Author's Country Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Academic Medicine Albanese & Mitchell USA Problem-based learning: A review of literature on its outcomes and implementation issues 1993 PBL in medicine 11 2,208 66 0.27
Academic Medicine Vernon & Blake USA Does problem-based learning work? A meta-analysis of evaluative research 1993 PBL in college level 8 0 28 -0.18
Learning and Instruction Dochy, Segers, Van den Bossche & Gijbels Belgium Effects of problem-based learning: A meta-analysis 2003 PBL on knowledge and skills 43 21,365 35 0.12
Dissertation Smith USA Problem-based versus lecture-based medical teaching and learning: a meta-analysis of cognitive and noncognitive outcomes 2003 PBL in medicine 82 12,979 121 0.31
Report Newman UK Problem-based learning: an exploration of the method and evaluation of its effectiveness in a continuing nursing education programme 2004 PBL in medicine 12 0 12 -0.30
NASSP Bulletin Haas USA Teaching methods for secondary algebra: a meta-analysis of findings 2005 PBL in algebra 7 1,538 34 0.52
Review of Educational Research Gijbels, Dochy, Van den Bossche & Segers Belgium Effects of problem-based learning: a meta-analysis from the angle of assessment 2005 PBL on assessment outcomes 40 0 49 0.32
The Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-based Learning Walker & Leary USA A problem based learning meta analysis: Differences across problem types, implementation types, disciplines, and assessment levels. 2009 PBL across disciplines 82 0 201 0.13
Egitim ve Bilim Dagyar & Demirel Turkey Effects of problem-based learning on academic achievement: A meta-analysis study 2015 PBL 98 0 98 0.76
Conference paper Jiang, Monteau, & Zhao China A Meta-analysis of the Effectiveness of the Problem-based Learning in College STEM Education Compared to Lecture based Learning. 2013 PBL 38 0 87 0.32
Review of Educational Research Chen & Yang Taiwan Revisiting the effects of project-based learning on students' academic achievement: A meta-analysis investigating moderators. 2019 PBL 30 12,585 30 0.71
Dissertation Jensen USA A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Problem- and Project-based Learning on Academic Achievement in Grades 6-12 Populations . 2015 PBL 34 9,998 34 0.59
Journal of Statistics Education Kalaian & Kasim USA Effectiveness of Various Innovative Learning Methods in Health Science Classrooms: A Meta-Analysis 2014 PBL 14 0 16 0.29
Advances in medical education and practice Sayyah, Shirbandi & Rahim Iran Use of a problem-based learning teaching model for undergraduate medical and nursing education: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2017 PBL 21 0 21 0.80
BMC medical education Zhou, Zhou, Huang, Zhang, Zeng, and Qian China Effectiveness of problem-based learning in Chinese pharmacy education: a meta-analysis. 2016 PBL in Chinese clinical training 13 913 13 0.06
International Education Studies Rosli, Capraro, & Capraro Malaysia The Effects of Problem Posing on Student Mathematical Learning: A Meta-Analysis 2014 PBL 13 0 14 0.88
Educational Psychologist Schmidt, Van der Molen, Te Winkel, & Wijnen Netherlands Constructivist, problem-based learning does work: A meta-analysis of curricular comparisons involving a single medical school 2009 Constructivist problem based learning on medical knowledge 10 0 90 -0.18
Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-based Learning Leary, Walker, Shelton & Fitt USA Exploring the Relationships Between Tutor Background, Tutor Training, and Student Learning: A Problem-based Learning Meta-Analysis. 2013 PBL 94 34,689 213 0.24
The Journal of Educational Studies Hong Korea A meta-analysis on the effects of problem-based learning 2008 PBL 85 0 49 0.69
Advances in Health Science Education Dolmans, Loyens, Marcq, & Gijbels Netherlands Deep and surface learning in problem-based learning: A review of the literature. 2016 PBL on surface and dep outcomes 21 0 17 0.09
International Journal of Instruction Funa & Prudente Phillipines Effectiveness of problem-based learning on secondary students' achievement in science: A meta-analysis. 2021 PBL 11 1,422 11 0.87
Journal of the Institute for Educational Research Stojadinovic, Ristanovic, & Komnenovic Serbia Effects of project-based learning on academic achievement: A meta-analysis. 2021 PBL 18 2,518 18 0.39
Journal of Physics: Conference Series Aisyah & Usdiyana Indonesia A meta analysis study: is Problem Based Learning (PBL) effective toward students' mathematical connections ability?. 2022 PBL 8 0 8 0.80
Research on Education and Psychology Alacapinar & Mustafa Turkey Meta-analysis covering studies on problem-based learning. R 2020 PBL 25 0 32 1.23
Journal of Physics: Conference Series Juandi & Tamur Indonesia Review of problem-based learning trends in 2010-2020: A meta-analysis study of the effect of problem-based learning in enhancing mathematical problem-solving skills of Indonesian students. 2021 PBL 50 0 50 0.82
International Journal of Economy, Education and Entrepreneuship Novitasri, Restuningdiah, & Utami Indonesia A meta-analysis on the effects of problem-based learning in accounting learning. 2022 PBL 24 0 24 0.70
Dissertation Brice USA An Examination of Problem-Based Learning and Its Impact on Medical Students' Attitudes and Academic Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis 2017 PBL 14 4,981 14 0.39
Journal on Education Widarbowo,Nofirman, Jasiah, Surur, & Astuti Indonesia Meta-analysis study for the use of project based learning models in teaching and learning activities.  2023 PBL 73 0 73 1.05
Conference paper Klager USA Project-Based Learning in Science: A Meta-Analysis of Science Achievement Effects. 2018 PBL 17 0 17 0.46
Science Education International Uluçinar Turkey The effect of problem-based learning in science education on academic achievement: A meta-analytical study. 2023 PBL 55 0 55 1.01
Journal of Statistics Education Erdem Turkey A Meta-analytic Review of Studies of the Effectiveness of Small-Group Learning Methods on Statistics Achievement. 2022 PBL 13 0 15 0.82
TOTAL/AVERAGE 1,064 105,196 1,545 0.48
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