Students Like to Chat: A Map of Ed Tech & Engagement Research (Mostly in the US and UK)

Overview

Paper Summary › Explain Like I'm Five › Conflicts of Interest › Identified Limitations › Rating Explanation › Good to know › Topic Hierarchy › File Information ›

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title

This study mapped 243 studies on student engagement and educational technology in higher education, finding most research originated from the US and UK, focused on undergraduate students, and employed quantitative methods. Behavioural engagement was the most frequently studied dimension, often fostered through text-based tools and learning management systems in blended learning environments. The review highlights the need for more qualitative research, broader geographic representation, and clearer definitions of student engagement in future studies.

Explain Like I'm Five

Scientists found that many papers look at how college students use computers to learn and stay interested. They mostly found out how students *do* things online, and they think we need more ideas from other places too!

Possible Conflicts of Interest

The authors acknowledge funding from the German Ministry of Education and Research, which may influence the focus or interpretation of the findings. However, there is no explicit indication of bias in the presented results.

Identified Limitations

Language bias in literature search

The search strategy, while international in scope, was limited to English language publications, potentially excluding relevant research in other languages. This is a significant limitation as it introduces bias and may not fully represent the global landscape of research in this area.

Limited time frame

The review only included articles published between 2007 and 2016. While this timeframe is relevant to current practices, it excludes potentially valuable research conducted before and after this period, especially given the rapid advancements in educational technology.

Sampling for full-text analysis

Although the review included a large number of studies, the reliance on a sample for full-text analysis (due to time constraints) may not fully capture the nuances of the entire corpus. This could lead to skewed results and limit the generalizability of the findings.

Over-reliance on quantitative studies

The heavy reliance on quantitative studies in the sample, while reflective of the field, limits the depth of understanding of the complex phenomena related to student engagement. More qualitative research is needed to explore the nuances of student experiences.

Lack of clear definition of student engagement

The lack of clear definitions of student engagement in most of the reviewed studies makes it difficult to compare findings across different research contexts. This inconsistency hinders the development of a cohesive understanding of the concept.

Rating Explanation

This systematic review provides a valuable overview of the research on student engagement and educational technology. The methodology is sound and the findings are clearly presented. However, several limitations, including language bias, limited time frame, reliance on sampling, and the dominance of quantitative studies, prevent it from receiving a higher rating. The limitations are acknowledged by the authors, and recommendations for future research are provided, which strengthens the paper's contribution to the field.

Good to know

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Topic Hierarchy

Domain: Social Sciences

Field: Arts and Humanities

Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory

File Information

Original Title: Mapping research in student engagement and educational technology in higher education: a systematic evidence map

Uploaded: July 14, 2025 at 06:45 AM

Privacy: Public