Effects of cooperative learning on students’ learning outcomes in physical education: a meta-analysis
Abstract
This meta-analysis examines the effect of Cooperative Learning (CL) interventions, compared to traditional instructional methods, on students’ learning outcomes across affective, cognitive, physical, and social domains in physical education (PE). The review involved a comprehensive search of 12 databases in English, Spanish, and Turkish, with the last search conducted on June 2nd, 2024. Studies included were true experimental or quasi-experimental designs featuring direct CL interventions in PE, covering students of both genders from primary school to university levels. The standardized Cochrane methods were used to identify eligible records, collect and combine data, and assess the risk of bias. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) v4 software package was used to yield a summary of quantitative results. Hedges’s g was used as the effect size (ES) measure, calculated from pre- and post-tests in both experimental and control groups. Forty-three studies (comprising 60 reports) were initially included, but three studies were excluded as outliers, leaving 40 studies (56 reports) with a total of 3.985 participants for analysis. The random effects model revealed a moderate positive overall effect of CL interventions (ES = 0.459, 95% CI = [0.324, 0.592], p < 0.001), indicating that CL enhances PE students’ learning across four domains. Subgroup analyses showed small to moderate ESs for affective (ES = 0.304), physical (ES = 0.471), cognitive (ES = 0.589), and social learning (ES =…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 985 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
- Tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study
- A new aging measure captures morbidity and mortality risk across diverse subpopulations from NHANES IV: A cohort study
- Fruit, vegetable, and legume intake, and cardiovascular disease and deaths in 18 countries (PURE): a prospective cohort study
- Are noise and air pollution related to the incidence of dementia? A cohort study in London, England
- Long COVID symptoms and duration in SARS-CoV-2 positive children — a nationwide cohort study
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.