Improving Learning: Meta-analysis of Intervention Research in Education

Improving Learning centres on the findings from different areas of education-focused research that support evidence-informed teaching and contextualises these results to optimise decision-making in schools. It also describes the origins and principles of meta-analysis in education and how this identifies the successes in improving learning in classrooms. Moreover, it explains the thinking behind the 'Teaching and Learning Toolkit' and similar approaches, which seek a big-picture overview of research findings. The advantages and disadvantages of this approach are explored with practical examples. Additionally, it identifies the issues in using research evidence in education and the steps that can be taken to improve this. It is not a manual on how to conduct a meta-analysis; instead the focus is on developing understanding of the approach in order to present its strengths and weaknesses. This understanding can advance critical engagement and effective use to improve educational outcomes for children and young people.

Steven Higgins is Professor of Education at the University of Durham. He was the lead author of the 'Sutton Trust-Education Endowment Foundation Teaching and Learning Toolkit' (2014) and led an Economic and Social Research Council researcher development initiative on meta-analysis.