Efficacy of Open Textbooks on Learning Performance and Course Withdrawal Rates: A Meta-Analysis

• In Event: Understanding Learning Strategies and Student Performance Using Meta-Analytic Methods

Abstract

Open textbooks have been developed in response to rising commercial textbook costs and copyright constraints. Numerous studies have been conducted to examine open textbooks with varied findings. The purposes of this study are to meta-analyze the findings of studies of postsecondary students comparing learning performance and course withdrawal rates between open and commercial textbooks. Based on a systematic search, there were no differences in learning efficacy between open textbooks and commercial textbooks (k = 22, g = .01, p = .87, N = 100,012). However, the withdrawal rate for postsecondary courses with open textbooks was significantly lower than that for commercial textbooks (k = 11, OR = .71, p = .005, N = 78,593). No significant moderators were identified.

Authors

• Virginia Clinton-Lisell, University of North Dakota

• Shafiq Khan, University of North Dakota