Table · dataset · 2026
Table 2_Impact of virtual and hands-on laboratory experimentation on the acquisition of conceptual science knowledge: a meta-analysis.docx
Listed in figshare and Loughborough Research Repository — shown once because both records carry DOI 10.3389/feduc.2026.1869632.s001
Introduction<p>Hands-on laboratory experimentation is an important contributor to the successful acquisition of conceptual science knowledge, but its practical application has several limitations.
Description
Virtual laboratory experiments help overcome most of these shortcomings and may also be more effective than hands-on laboratory activities in promoting conceptual science knowledge acquisition.</p>Methods<p>In this study, the impact of virtual and hands-on laboratory experimentation on the acquisition of conceptual science knowledge was compared by means of a meta-analysis.
The meta-analysis encompassed 43 studies selected according to the predefined inclusion criteria, and the principles of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses procedure. For each study, one effect size value of Hedges' g was calculated. Subsequently, due to their heterogeneity, the overall effect size value was computed through the use of the random-effects model.</p>Results<p>Based on the obtained results [g = 0.551, SE = 0.097, 95% CI (0.362, 0.740), p < 0.001] virtual laboratory experimentation appears to be significantly more effective in promoting the acquisition of conceptual science knowledge than experimentation conducted in hands-on laboratories.
Read the rest (2 more)
Furthermore, the meta-regression results suggest that the effectiveness of virtual laboratory experiments may not be moderated by the geographical location, science subject area, methodological quality of included studies, 2D/3D design type, delivery format, learner agency, and software type of virtual laboratories, the duration of their application, or the assessment format used to evaluate conceptual knowledge acquisition.
Conversely, virtual laboratory experimentation seems to be significantly more effective when implemented at the secondary school as opposed to the university level (p = 0.014) and when experimental activities were conducted individually rather than within groups (p = 0.008).</p>Conclusions<p>Research results suggest significantly stronger positive impact of virtual laboratory experimentation on the acquisition of conceptual science knowledge and provide potentially important guidelines for both its practical application and future research in this field.</p>
Links
Where it is published
- DOI doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2026.1869632.s001 ↗
DOI / persistent id · from figshare com
Catalogue records · 1
- OAI-PMH record api.figshare.com/v2/oai?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=oai_dc&identifier=oai%3Af… ↗
metadata API · from figshare com
Topics
- From keywords
- Astronomy & Astrophysics · Chemistry · Chemistry · Computer Science & AI · Computer Science & AI · Earth & Environmental Science · Earth & Environmental Science · Economics & Finance · Economics & Finance · Engineering · Engineering · Humanities · Humanities · Life Sciences · Life Sciences · Materials Science · Mathematics & Statistics · Medicine & Health · Medicine & Health · Ocean & Atmospheric Science · Psychology & Behavioral Science · Social Science · Social Science
- Inferred from text
- Tabular 65%
Related
Provenance · 2 source records, 29 field assertions
| Source | Key | Last seen | Raw |
|---|---|---|---|
| figshare | oai:figshare.com:article/33992257 | 8 d ago | JSON v1 |
| Loughborough Research Repository | oai:figshare.com:article/33992257 | 8 d ago | JSON v1 |
| Field | Assertion | Extractor | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| access_level | source · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:astronomy | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:chemistry | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:chemistry | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:computer-science-ai | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:computer-science-ai | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmental | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmental | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:economics-finance | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:economics-finance | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:engineering | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:engineering | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:humanities | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:humanities | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:life-sciences | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:life-sciences | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:materials-science | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:mathematics-statistics | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:medicine-health | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:medicine-health | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:ocean-atmospheric | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:psychology-behavioral | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:social-science | mapping · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:social-science | mapping · repository lboro ac uk | connector:repository_lboro_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[modality].local:modality:tabular | enrichment · figshare com | keyword-concept-rules@1.0.0 | title+description (65%) |
| description | source · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | /metadata/dc/description |
| license | source · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | /metadata/dc/rights |
| publication_date | source · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | |
| title | source · figshare com | connector:figshare_com@1.0.0 | /metadata/dc/title |