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Uncovering the black box effect of Open Educational Resources (OER) and practices (OEP): a meta-analysis and meta-synthesis from the perspective of activity theory

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmed Tlili

    (Smart Learning Institute of Beijing Normal University)

  • Xiangling Zhang

    (Beijing Institute of Education)

  • Georgios Lampropoulos

    (University of Macedonia
    University of Nicosia)

  • Soheil Salha

    (An-Najah National University)

  • Juan Garzón

    (Universidad Católica de Oriente)

  • Aras Bozkurt

    (Anadolu University)

  • Ronghuai Huang

    (Smart Learning Institute of Beijing Normal University)

  • Daniel Burgos

    (Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)
    MIU City University Miami)

Abstract

Conflicting results exist in the literature on whether Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP) can improve learning performance. Additionally, limited studies, in this context, have attempted to systematically measure and understand this phenomenon. To address this research gap, this study conducts a two-level analysis based on a systematic review of the OER and OEP literature. It first conducts a meta-analysis to measure the effect of OER and OEP on learning performance. It then conducts a meta-synthesis based on the activity theory to understand what led to this effect (measured in the first phase). Specifically, 32 studies (N = 134905 participants) were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. The obtained results revealed that OER and OEP have significant negligible effect (g = 0.10; p

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed Tlili & Xiangling Zhang & Georgios Lampropoulos & Soheil Salha & Juan Garzón & Aras Bozkurt & Ronghuai Huang & Daniel Burgos, 2025. "Uncovering the black box effect of Open Educational Resources (OER) and practices (OEP): a meta-analysis and meta-synthesis from the perspective of activity theory," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04644-y
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04644-y
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    1. Fragkos, Konstantinos C. & Tsagris, Michail & Frangos, Christos C., 2014. "Publication Bias in Meta-Analysis: Confidence Intervals for Rosenthal’s Fail-Safe Number," MPRA Paper 66451, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Xiangling Zhang & Ahmed Tlili & Ronghuai Huang & Tingwen Chang & Daniel Burgos & Junfeng Yang & Jiacai Zhang, 2020. "A Case Study of Applying Open Educational Practices in Higher Education during COVID-19: Impacts on Learning Motivation and Perceptions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Leila Hurmerinta-Peltomäki & Niina Nummela, 2006. "Mixed methods in international business research: A value-added perspective," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 439-459, August.
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