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

Simulations

Overview

  • Influence: Simulations
  • Domain: Technology, School, and Out-of-School Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Gaming
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Simulations programs refer to activities that use interactive, often digital, models to replicate real-world processes, scenarios, or systems

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 14
  • Number of studies: 786
  • Number of students: 12,093
  • Number of effects: 1,087
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.59
  • Robustness index: 4

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Journal of Educational Research Dekkers & Donatti The integration of research studies on the use of simulation as an instructional strategy 1981 Simulations and achievement 93 NA 93 0.33
Psychological Reports Remmer & Jernstedt Comparative effectiveness of simulation games in secondary and college level instruction: A meta-analysis. 1982 Computer simulations 21 NA 21 0.20
Dissertation Szczurek Meta-analysis of simulation games effectiveness for cognitive learning 1982 Simulation games 58 NA 58 0.33
International journal of instructional media Lee Effectiveness of computer-based instructional simulation: A meta analysis.  1999 Simulations on achievement 19 NA 34 0.28
Conference paper McKenna Animation, Simulation and Virtual Reality. 1991 Simulations in economics 26 NA 118 0.38
International Journal of Instructional Media Lee Effectiveness of Computer-Based Instructional Simulation: A Meta-Analysis 1999 Computer simulations 19 NA 19 0.40
Theory and Research in Social Education VanSickle A quantitative review of research on instructional simulation gaming: A twenty-year perspective 1986 Instructional simulation gaming 42 NA 42 0.43
Dissertation Armstrong Computer-Based Simulations in Learning Environments: A Meta-Analysis of Outcomes 1991 Computers and simulations and games 43 NA 43 0.29
Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education Kim, Park & Shin Systematic review of Korean studies on simulation within nursing education. 2016 Simulation based systems 40 NA 40 0.70
Report D'Angelo, Rutstein, Harris, Bernard, Borokhovski, & Haertel Simulations for STEM learning: Systematic review and meta-analysis 2014 Simulations in STEM 40 NA 36 0.67
Personnel Psychology Sitzmann A meta-analytic examination of the instructional effectiveness of computer-based simulation games. 2011 Computer simulations 65 4,518 68 0.30
Zeitschrift für Pädagogische Psychologie Chernikova, Holzberger, Heitzmann, Stadler, Seidel, & Fischer Where salience goes beyond authenticity.  2023 Simulation based learning 214 NA 409 0.94
Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry Robledo & Prudente Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Activities vs. Traditional Interventions in Teaching Biology: A Meta-Analysis. 2021 Simulations 15 NA 15 0.77
International Journal of Technology in Education and Science Talan The Effect of Simulation Technique on Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analysis Study 2021 Simulations 91 7,575 91 0.76
TOTAL/AVERAGE 786 12,093 1,087 0.48
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