A Meta-analysis of the Worked Examples Effect on Mathematics Performance
We checked this card's citation and the finding we state against the source's own page or record in October 2026.
What it found
Studying worked examples had a medium effect on math performance, whether used when first learning a skill or during practice. Correct examples alone worked better than incorrect examples or a mix, and adding self-explanation prompts made the effect smaller rather than larger.
Effect size, as the source reports it: g = 0.48.
What kind of study it is
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Weight
- A synthesis: it pools or weighs many studies, so it carries the most weight on the evidence meter.
- Sample
- 55 high-quality experimental and quasi-experimental studies, 181 effect sizes, from elementary to postsecondary
- Who
- Both school-age children and college students
Read it
doi.org/10.1007/s10648-023-09745-1 · ERIC record EJ1364058
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Cited in the Library
Cite this study
Barbieri, C. A., Miller-Cotto, D., Clerjuste, S. N., & Chawla, K. (2023). A meta-analysis of the worked examples effect on mathematics performance. Educational Psychology Review, 35(1), Article 11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-023-09745-1
Checked against the source in October 2026. All studies · How we rate the evidence · Something wrong? Tell us.