Global effects of robot-based education on academic achievements, computation, motivation, and performance

Abstract Given the demonstrated efficacy of robots in educational contexts, a wide range of robotic platforms have been specifically designed for educational purposes. While numerous individual studies have explored the effect of robot-based education, few systematic reviews or meta-analyses have sy...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Haoran Tang, Wei Xu, Yu Feng, Wenwen Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-08-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05546-9
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849388179691405312
author Haoran Tang
Wei Xu
Yu Feng
Wenwen Cao
author_facet Haoran Tang
Wei Xu
Yu Feng
Wenwen Cao
author_sort Haoran Tang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Given the demonstrated efficacy of robots in educational contexts, a wide range of robotic platforms have been specifically designed for educational purposes. While numerous individual studies have explored the effect of robot-based education, few systematic reviews or meta-analyses have synthesized robots’ effect on educational outcomes such as academic achievement, computational knowledge, learning motivation, and performance. This study aims to bridge this research gap by studying the effect of robots on educational outcomes through a rigorous meta-analysis and systematic review following established guidelines (PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Literature was retrieved from numerous online databases such as Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and EI Compendex. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 36 studies were finally included for this study. Hedge’s g was adopted to calculate the effect sizes, I2 statistics was used to measure heterogeneity, and sensitivity analysis and publication bias tests such as Begg’s test, Egger’s test, and funnel plots were used to verify the robustness. The study concludes that robot-based education is associated with moderate-to-large improvements in academic achievement (g = 0.72; 95%CI = 0.30~1.13, medium-to-large effect), computational knowledge (g = 0.85; 95%CI = 0.55~1.15, large effect), motivation (g = 0.47; 95%CI = 0.19~0.75, medium effect), performance (g = 0.81; 95%CI = 0.22~1.40, large effect), and overall educational outcomes (g = 0.71; 95%CI = 0.50~0.92, medium-to-large effect) compared to traditional methods. No significant publication bias was detected, and the results were demonstrated to be robust. The study has confirmed that robot-based education is an effective pedagogical approach. Thus, there is a pressing need for future research to focus on designing robot-based education programs with a specific focus on optimizing educational outcomes.
format Article
id doaj-art-cb6500b9b3804f8e8cfc8af9a790fd80
institution Kabale University
issn 2662-9992
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Springer Nature
record_format Article
series Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
spelling doaj-art-cb6500b9b3804f8e8cfc8af9a790fd802025-08-20T03:42:23ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-08-0112111210.1057/s41599-025-05546-9Global effects of robot-based education on academic achievements, computation, motivation, and performanceHaoran Tang0Wei Xu1Yu Feng2Wenwen Cao3College of International Education, Dali UniversityFaculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of MacauFaculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of MacauDepartment of College English Teaching, Qufu Normal UniversityAbstract Given the demonstrated efficacy of robots in educational contexts, a wide range of robotic platforms have been specifically designed for educational purposes. While numerous individual studies have explored the effect of robot-based education, few systematic reviews or meta-analyses have synthesized robots’ effect on educational outcomes such as academic achievement, computational knowledge, learning motivation, and performance. This study aims to bridge this research gap by studying the effect of robots on educational outcomes through a rigorous meta-analysis and systematic review following established guidelines (PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Literature was retrieved from numerous online databases such as Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and EI Compendex. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 36 studies were finally included for this study. Hedge’s g was adopted to calculate the effect sizes, I2 statistics was used to measure heterogeneity, and sensitivity analysis and publication bias tests such as Begg’s test, Egger’s test, and funnel plots were used to verify the robustness. The study concludes that robot-based education is associated with moderate-to-large improvements in academic achievement (g = 0.72; 95%CI = 0.30~1.13, medium-to-large effect), computational knowledge (g = 0.85; 95%CI = 0.55~1.15, large effect), motivation (g = 0.47; 95%CI = 0.19~0.75, medium effect), performance (g = 0.81; 95%CI = 0.22~1.40, large effect), and overall educational outcomes (g = 0.71; 95%CI = 0.50~0.92, medium-to-large effect) compared to traditional methods. No significant publication bias was detected, and the results were demonstrated to be robust. The study has confirmed that robot-based education is an effective pedagogical approach. Thus, there is a pressing need for future research to focus on designing robot-based education programs with a specific focus on optimizing educational outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05546-9
spellingShingle Haoran Tang
Wei Xu
Yu Feng
Wenwen Cao
Global effects of robot-based education on academic achievements, computation, motivation, and performance
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Global effects of robot-based education on academic achievements, computation, motivation, and performance
title_full Global effects of robot-based education on academic achievements, computation, motivation, and performance
title_fullStr Global effects of robot-based education on academic achievements, computation, motivation, and performance
title_full_unstemmed Global effects of robot-based education on academic achievements, computation, motivation, and performance
title_short Global effects of robot-based education on academic achievements, computation, motivation, and performance
title_sort global effects of robot based education on academic achievements computation motivation and performance
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05546-9
work_keys_str_mv AT haorantang globaleffectsofrobotbasededucationonacademicachievementscomputationmotivationandperformance
AT weixu globaleffectsofrobotbasededucationonacademicachievementscomputationmotivationandperformance
AT yufeng globaleffectsofrobotbasededucationonacademicachievementscomputationmotivationandperformance
AT wenwencao globaleffectsofrobotbasededucationonacademicachievementscomputationmotivationandperformance