Effects of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning on EFL/ESL Reading Comprehension

• Published in: Educational Technology ＆ Society Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 15 - 29
• Main Author: Li, Rui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palmerston North International Forum of Educational Technology ＆ Society 01.07.2022; International Forum of Educational Technology & Society, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan; International Forum of Educational Technology & Society
• Subjects: Audience Response; Computer assisted language learning; Control Groups; Educational aspects; Educational Technology; Effect Size; Electronic Learning; English (Second Language); English as a second language; English as a second language learning; English education; English Learners; Evaluation; Experimental Groups; Full Length Articles; Handheld Devices; Influence of Technology; Language Skills; Literature Reviews; Meta Analysis; mobile-assisted language learning (mall); Reading Ability; Reading Comprehension; Reading Research; Reading Strategies; Researchers; Second Language Learning; Second language reading; Teaching Methods; United Kingdom; Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL); Reading comprehension; Meta-analysis
• ISSN: 1176-3647; 1436-4522; 1436-4522
• DOI: 10.30191/ETS.202207_25(3).0002

While an increasing number of studies have cast light on the effectiveness of MALL (mobile-assisted language learning) on English as a foreign/second language (EFL/ESL) reading comprehension, there is still a lack of comprehensive meta-analysis regarding the effect sizes of these studies. To fill the gap, this study reported results based on a meta-analysis of 20 effect sizes from 17 experimental and quasi-experimental studies published during 2000-2020. The results showed that the overall effect size was significantly large, suggesting the use of MALL applications for EFL/ESL reading comprehension is more effective than traditional methods. The moderating effects of eight moderators were analyzed. The intervention settings and intervention durations were found to be significant moderators, while others did not find a significant moderating effect. Implications of the findings were discussed.