Computer-based scaffolding improves cognitive outcomes in problem-based learning in STEM education with an overall effect of g = 0.385¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesisr2·q3·i1small
Currency · newest study 2018 · checked against its sources 2026-10-22 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
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This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i1 Students who used computer-based scaffolding within problem-based learning in STEM showed better learning performance than those who did not, with an overall effect of g = 0.385 (95% CrI 0.022 to 0.802). → Nam Ju Kim 2018
Evidence¶
Nam Ju Kim 2018¶
Nam Ju Kim, Brian R. Belland, & Andrew E. Walker. (2018). Effectiveness of Computer-Based Scaffolding in the Context of Problem-Based Learning for STEM Education: Bayesian Meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-017-9419-1
q3 · i1 · quant-synthesis · r2
Bayesian meta-analysis of 21 studies with 47 outcomes on computer-based scaffolding in PBL for STEM, using a random effects model and Hedges' g. The overall effect was "g = 0.385 (95% CrI = 0.022 to 0.802)", labeled small/moderate by Cohen (1988) in the discussion.
"The general effects of computer-based scaffolding compared to the group who did not receive any scaffolding was g = 0.385 (95% CrI = 0.022 to 0.802) based on 20,000 simulated iterations."
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- Expert modeling, feedback, hints, and multiple strategies improve cognitive outcomes, but question prompts show no evident difference from control — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Metacognitive and strategic scaffolding show larger effects in PBL-STEM than conceptual scaffolding — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Customized scaffolding (fading/adding) outperforms non-customized scaffolding in PBL-STEM, with fading/adding highest at g = 0.590 — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Scaffolding effects in PBL are higher in Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics than in Science, and relatively low in integrated STEM education — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Computer-based scaffolding shows a consistently positive effect on cognitive outcomes in STEM education — a broader claim this one bears on
- Scaffolding targeting analysis-level skills yields much larger effects (g = 0.537) than scaffolding targeting synthesis or evaluation — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Self-selected scaffolding customization yields higher effects than fixed time interval and performance-adapted customization — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Scaffolding improves learning — a broader claim this one bears on
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
cbs-pbl-stem-overall-effect-g-0-385 |
title |
Computer-based scaffolding improves cognitive outcomes in problem-based learning in STEM education with an overall effect of g = 0.385 |
description |
Computer-based scaffolding improves cognitive outcomes in problem-based learning in STEM education with an overall effect of g = 0.385 |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2018 |
source_checked |
2026-10-22 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-22 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — nam-ju-kim-2018 |
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