A meta analytical review of the relationship between personal epistemology and self-regulated learning

Abstract

Recently, researchers have begun associating personal epistemology with self-regulated learning. Therefore, in the literature there is a need to examine what degree the studies have supported the relationship between the two. The purpose of this meta-analysis is two folds: a) to compute the mean effect size for the relations between personal epistemology and self-regulated learning and b) to examine the influence of moderator variables including age, gender, culture, and subject area on the mean effect size. It analyzes the result of forty-five studies conducted various countries and disciplines. A small but significant mean effect size emerged (r=.24 [SE=.012] under fixed effects model, and r=.22 [SE=.026] under random effects model). Although the effect of age on the relationship is not statistically significant, moderator analyses revealed statistically significant effects of the culture, gender, and subject area inferred from the reviewed studies on the relationship. The results highlight the need for further research into how gender, culture and subject area influence students' personal epistemology and self-regulated learning