A Meta-Analytic Approach for Examining the Effects of STEAM Education Programs in South Korea

• Published in: Innovation and Education Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 81 - 97
• Main Authors: Jeong, Hye-Mi, Kwon, Hyuksoo, Kim, Sung-Ha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leiden | Boston Brill 13.02.2023
• ISSN: 2524-8502; 2524-8502
• DOI: 10.55396/ined.22.0006

Abstract This study was conducted to analyze previous studies that presented the effects of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education programs in South Korea and to draw a systematic and comprehensive conclusion. A meta-analytic approach was implemented to integrate research findings based on 83 published studies selected from 549 publications. The overall effect size was found to be a medium one. The effect size by publication type was presented in the following order: the master's thesis, the published journal, and the doctoral thesis. The effect size by school grade was presented in the following order: elementary school, middle school, and high school. The effect size by studies applied to gifted students appeared bigger than that applied to general students. The effect size by multidisciplinary type appeared bigger than by interdisciplinary type, while the effect size of gifted education was biggest among various instruction types. The effect size by the subcategories of dependent variables indicated creativity, science process skills, attitude toward science, creative problem solving, academic achievements, and attitudes toward mathematics. A meta-regression analysis was conducted for the continuous variables, and neither publication year nor application period was of significant effect. Taken together, this research demonstrates the effects of STEAM education programs from 2010 to 2014 in South Korea and provide implications regarding the continuation of the programs. For the success of the STEAM education, it is necessary to establish conditions for teachers to accelerate their competence for STEAM education. Also, it would be worthwhile to expand the opportunities of the STEAM education program beyond school curriculums.