Adaptive scaffolding shows descriptively higher effects than adaptable scaffolding in simulation-based learning, though the difference is not statistically significant¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesis r? · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Across primary studies, adaptive scaffolding (g = 0.98) yielded descriptively higher effects than adaptable scaffolding (g = 0.75), but the difference between strategies did not reach statistical significance. → Chernikova 2025

Evidence¶

Chernikova 2025¶

Chernikova, O., Sommerhoff, D., Stadler, M., Holzberger, D., Nickl, M., Seidel, T., Kasneci, E., Küchemann, S., Kuhn, J., Fischer, F., & Heitzmann, N. (2025). Personalization through adaptivity or adaptability? A meta-analysis on simulation-based learning in higher education. Educational Research Review 46 (2025) 100662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2024.100662

q2 · i? · quant-synthesis · r?

Meta-analysis of N = 143 studies coded for scaffolding personalization; Table 1 reports adaptive scaffolding g = 0.98 (N = 25) and adaptable scaffolding g = 0.75 (N = 12), with the difference "did not reach statistical significance (p > .05)". No effect size for the contrast is printed.

"While the differences in the effect sizes between strategies did not reach statistical significance (p > .05), descriptive values indicate that adaptable scaffolding seems to be in general slightly less beneficial than adaptive scaffolding"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Adaptable task progression is descriptively more beneficial than fixed task progression in simulation-based learning — related
• Most primary studies in simulation-based learning do not personalize scaffolding or task progression — related
• Fully adaptable learning environments are significantly less beneficial than non-personalized environments — related
• Real-time adaptive scaffolding based on note-coded proof indicators elicited more elaborate diagnostic reasoning — a narrower finding that bears on this claim