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

Vocabulary programs

Overview

  • Influence: Vocabulary programs
  • Domain: Curricula
  • Sub-Domain: Reading, writing and the arts
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to considerably accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Programs to build the student's vocabulary, subject matter vocabulary, and make connections to other words.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 14
  • Number of studies: 523
  • Number of students: 20,774
  • Number of effects: 1,122
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.69
  • 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 Stahl & Fairbanks The effects of vocabulary instruction: A model-based meta-analysis 1986 Vocabulary interventions 41 NA 41 0.97
Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded Arnold, Myette, & Casto Relationships of Language Intervention Efficacy to Certain Subject Characteristics in Mentally Retarded Preschool Children: A Meta-Analysis 1986 Language intervention 30 NA 87 0.59
Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders Nye, Foster, & Seaman Effectiveness of language intervention with the language/learning disabled 1987 Language intervention 61 NA 299 1.04
Dissertation Poirier The effectiveness of language intervention with preschool handicapped children: an integrative review 1989 Language intervention 61 NA 61 0.50
Dissertation Marmolejo The effects of vocabulary instruction with poor readers: a meta-analysis 1990 Vocabulary interventions 15 NA 52 0.69
Journal of Research and Development in Education Klesius & Searls A meta-analysis of recent research in meaning vocabulary instruction 1990 Vocabulary interventions 39 NA 39 0.50
Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness Elleman, Lindo, Morphy & Compton The impact of vocabulary instruction on passage-level comprehension of school-age children: A meta-analysis 2009 Vocabulary interventions 28 3,063 37 0.10
Review of Educational Research Marulis & Neuman Effective programs in elementary mathematics: A best- evidence synthesis 2010 Vocabulary interventions on word learning 67 5,929 216 0.88
Dissertation Romero Instruction for Vocabulary Development of English Language Learners: A Meta-analysis  2011 Instruction on English language learners vocabulary 8 NA 54 0.26
Dissertation Xiong A Meta-analysis on the Effects of Vocabulary Instruction for English Learners 2020 Vocabulary interventions 45 2,805 65 0.36
Dissertation Won The effects of vocabulary instruction on English language learners: A meta-analysis 2008 Vocabulary interventions 43 2,991 43 0.69
ReCALL Yu & Trainin A meta-analysis examining technology-assisted L2 vocabulary learning.  2022 Technology assisted vocabulary learning 34 2,511 34 0.64
International Journal of Lexicography Zhang The effects of dictionary use on second language vocabulary acquisition: A meta-analysis.  2020 Dictionary use on Vocabulary 44 3,475 87 1.03
Conference Orosco & Swanson The Impact of Instruction on English Language Learners' Vocabulary Development: A Selective Meta-Analysis of the Literature 2013 Vocabulary instruction with English Language learners 7 NA 7 0.35
TOTAL/AVERAGE 523 20,774 1,122 0.61
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