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

Study skills programs

Overview

  • Influence: Study skills programs
  • Domain: Student Learning Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Learning strategies
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have positive impact
  • Influence Definition: Study skills programs aim to teach students effective techniques for learning, organizing, and retaining information

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 8
  • Number of studies: 640
  • Number of students: 96,245
  • Number of effects: 1,696
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.24
  • 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
Review of Educational Research Kulik, Kulik, & Schwalb College programs for high-risk and disadvantaged students: A meta-analysis of findings 1983 Study skills preparation programs 57 NA 57 0.27
Journal of Applied Psychology Robbins, Oh, Le & Button Intervention effects on college performance and retention as mediated by motivational, emotional, and social control factors: Integrated meta-analytic path analyses 2009 College support programs 107 11,183 107 0.21
Review of Educational Research Hattie, Biggs, & Purdie Effects of learning skills interventions on student learning: A meta-analysis 1996 Study skills 51 5,443 270 0.45
Conference paper Burley A meta-analysis of the effects of developmental studies programs on college student achievement, attitude, and persistence 1994 College programs for underprepared 27 7,285 40 0.13
Australian Journal of Education Purdie & Hattie The Relationship between Study Skills and Learning Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis 1999 Study skills 52 NA 653 0.30
Psychological Bulletin Robbins, Lauver, Le, Davis, Langley & Carlstrom Do psychosocial and study skill factors predict college outcomes? A meta-analysis 2004 Study skills at college 109 476 279 0.41
Educational Research Review Fong, Krou, Johnston-Ashton, Hoff, Lin, & Gonzales LASSI's great adventure: A meta-analysis of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory and academic outcomes 2021 Study aids 207 71,858 260 0.08
Humanities Elango & Manimozhi Meta Analysis of Study Habits and Academic Achievement 2021 Study skills 30 NA 30 0.50
TOTAL/AVERAGE 640 96,245 1,696 0.29
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