Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42220377›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in psychology2026

Exploring the effect of GenAI on learning outcomes in higher education: a three-level meta-analysis.

Changxin Fan, Lele Ke, Zexiong Chen, Pin Lv

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Changxin FanInstitute of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Lele KeSchool of Marxism, NingboTech University, Ningbo, China.
Zexiong ChenInstitute of Education, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Pin LvSchool of Educational Science, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: As generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) becomes increasingly integrated into higher education, greater clarity is needed regarding its impact on student learning. Methods: This study conducted a three-level meta-analysis of 36 empirical studies, synthesizing 132 effect sizes from 7,229 participants. Learning outcomes were classified using the Learning Outcomes Thematic Group (LOTG) framework, and seven study-level moderators were examined. Results: The results indicate a significant medium overall effect of GenAI on learning outcomes ( Discussion: These findings suggest that GenAI is most effective when embedded in interactive and collaborative pedagogies. The study introduces a GenAI-Learning Alignment Perspective and outlines implications for instructional design, assessment practices, and teacher professional development.

Indexed as

ChatGPTgenerative artificial intelligencelearning outcomesmeta-analysisteaching method

Identifiers

PMID42220377
PMCPMC13219050

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.