Meta-analysis on relations between E-learning research trends and effectiveness of learning

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate research trends on e-learning in Korea for the past 10 years and meta-analyze relations between e-learning and its effectiveness with an eye on confirming the effectiveness of e-learning. The analysis showed that there is a high correlation between changes in the society's overall interest in e-learning and the number of published papers on related subjects(r=.672). Early on, researches focused on applicable areas for e-learning, but the focus gradually shifted towards design. In terms of research method, survey based on paper questionnaires or data analysis on research subjects showed a high percentage (49.3%), and research areas have been found to be meaningfully related to research methods (Fisher's exact test: 42.019, p=.012). Overall effectiveness of learning through e-learning proved positive, but the mean effect size was somehow small (Mean ES=.301). When e-learning's effectiveness was studied in consideration of learners' background variables and e-learning environmental variables, the latter was found to have a greater effect. © 2013 SERSC.