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Version 1.3 – Updated November 2024

Extracurricular activities

Overview

  • Influence: Extracurricular activities
  • Domain: Technology, School, and Out-of-School Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Out-of-school
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have a small positive impact
  • Influence Definition: Extracurricular activities such as music classes, sports, visits to science centers, botanic gardens, and museums.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 9
  • Number of studies: 180
  • Number of students: 233,515
  • Number of effects: 1,075
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.13
  • Robustness index: 3

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author First Author's Country Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Dissertation Lewis & Samuels USA Read more–read better? A meta-analysis of the literature on the relationship between exposure to reading and reading achievement 2003 General activities 10 0 10 0.47
Dissertation Lewis & Samuels USA Read more–read better? A meta-analysis of the literature on the relationship between exposure to reading and reading achievement 2003 Sports 5 0 5 0.10
Review of Educational Research Lauer, Akiba, Wilkerson, Apthorp, Snow, & Martin-Glenn USA Out-of-school-time programs: A meta-analysis of effects for at-risk students 2006 After school programs on reading and math 30 15,277 24 0.10
International Review of Education Shulruf New Zealand Do extra-curricular activities in schools improve educational outcomes? A critical review and meta-analysis of the literature. 2010 Extra curricula activities 29 0 148 0.19
Report Chappell, Nunnery, Pribesh & Hager USA Supplemental educational services provision of no child left behind: A synthesis of provider effects. 2010 Supplemental education services out of school 28 140,345 801 0.03
Dissertation Marshall USA Is there an Academic Benefit to Participating in Extracurricular Activities? A Systemic Review and Meta-analysis 1997 Extra curricula activities 5 42,546 5 0.04
Journal of College Student Development Gellin USA The Effect of Undergraduate Student Involvement on Critical Thinking: A Meta-Analysis of the Literature 1991-2000 2003 UG student involvement in clubs etc. 18 0 18 0.08
Report Kidron & Lindsay USA The Effects of Increased Learning Time on Student Academic and Nonacademic Outcomes: Findings from a Meta-Analytic Review 2014 Increasing time outside school 30 35,347 39 0.04
Education Development Research Shanshan & Xiangdong China Meta-analysis of the effect of extracurricula tutoring on student's academic performance. 2015 Out of school tutoring 25 0 25 0.27
TOTAL/AVERAGE 180 233,515 1,075 0.15
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