Does combining real and virtual experiments improve learning achievement in physics? Evidence from a meta-analysis (2001–2021)

Abstract

In physical experiment teaching, real experiments can provide students with practical experience and foster their operation concepts and skills, but the efficiency is low and many uncertain factors exist. In comparison, virtual experiments can visualize abstract concepts and improve the success rate of the experiments, but they cannot provide students with real experience or sufficient training of their operation ability. Because of the unique advantages that can be derived from combining the two, combining real and virtual experiments (CRVE) is gradually becoming more widely used in physics teaching. Although much empirical research has been carried out to assess learning achievement in CRVE, few studies have comprehensively investigated the statistical combination of the results from multiple studies regarding learning achievement in CRVE. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted in the present study to analyze 27 independent experimental studies after pre-selecting 4523 journal papers published between 2001 and 2021 to systematically examine the effects of CRVE on learning achievement. The findings show that CRVE contributes positively to learning achievement in physics courses compared to real experiments (ES = 0.66). In addition, subgroup analyses revealed that study results are influenced by three moderating variables: physics themes, sample size, and CRVE sequence. We found that learning more complex and abstract physical concepts is more conducive to the strengths of CRVE. Meanwhile, CRVE works best in small-scale courses; among all sequences, the CRVE sequence designed based on the theoretical framework is the most effective in terms of enhancing learning achievement. Finally, some suggestions are made for the application and study of CRVE in the teaching of physics based on the findings of the study.