A meta-analysis of the impact of ICT on academic performance of university students

Abstract

The present research was to do a meta-analysis of the Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on academic achievement of university students. The population consisted of all the research done on this subject from 2015 until 2023. This study employed a Quantitative Meta-analysis design by combining the results of multiple scientific studies to examine the effect of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) usage on academic performance of university students. A total of 20 studies were included in the analysis, encompassing a series of cross-sectional studies, descriptive studies, random trial studies, etc. Summary of findings, regression model, publication bias, tests for small study effects and the multivariate regression model were estimated. Based on systematic random sampling approach, a sample of 20 research studies conducted between 2015 and 2023 were used in computation of results using the Cohen’s model. The computed results indicate that ICT has a positive impact on academic performance of university students because the effect size for the impact of ICT on academic performance was 0.515, which is above the medium based on Cohen’s model. Furthermore, the results showed that the effect of ICT usage on academic performance varies across different types of ICT devices, with ICT infrastructure having a stronger effect than other forms of devices such as social media use and smartphone usage as indicated by the regression coefficients (1.18, 0.49 and 0.47 respectively). These findings have important implications for educators and policymakers, highlighting the importance of incorporating ICT in education to enhance student learning outcomes. The study provides valuable insights for future research on the topic and recommends the following; Educators and policymakers should prioritize the integration of ICT in education to enhance student academic performance, Educators should be trained on how to effectively integrate ICT in their teaching practices, and Students should be taught digital literacy skills to enable them to effectively use ICT in their academic pursuits