Comparing the Effectiveness of Distance and Face-to-Face Learning: An Application of Network Meta-Analysis

• In Event: 43.072 - Learning About Meta-Analysis and Meta-Analyses About Learning: Methods and Applications of Research Synthesis

Abstract

As the increased adoption of distance instruction in higher education, it is important to evaluate the learning outcomes of students enrolled in the online or partially online classes and compare the results to the traditional face-to-face classes. With a considerable amount of disagreement have been found in the empirical studies on the relative effectiveness of different modes of instruction, meta-analysis becomes a useful tool to systematically synthesize the mixed findings. The purposes of this study are twofold: (1) to empirically compare the effectiveness of different modes of instruction using a more advanced analytical technique named network meta-analysis; and (2) to discuss the advantages and challenges of adopting network meta-analysis in synthesizing educational studies.

Authors

• Meng-Jia Wu, Loyola University Chicago

• Wenya Chen, Loyola University Chicago