J. Hattie et al., ADVENTURE EDUCATION AND OUTWARD-BOUND - OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCES THATMAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE, Review of educational research, 67(1), 1997, pp. 43-87
The purpose of this meta-analysis is to examine the effects of adventu
re programs on a diverse array of outcomes such as self-concept, locus
of control, and leadership. The meta-analysis was based on 1,728 effe
ct sizes drawn from 151 unique samples from 96 studies, and the averag
e effect size at the end of the programs was .34. In a remarkable cont
rast to most educational research, these short-term or immediate gains
were followed by substantial additional gains between the end of the
program and follow-up assessments (ES = .17). The effect sizes varied
substantially according the particular program and outcome and improve
d as the length of the program and the ages of participants increased.
Too little is known, however, about why adventure programs work most
effectively.