Investigating the Effectiveness of Social Skills Training in Early Childhood in Türkiye: A Meta Analysis and Meta Regression Study

Nisanur Kılıç; Gökhan Kayılı

doi:10.17275/per.25.88.12.6

Investigating the Effectiveness of Social Skills Training in Early Childhood in Türkiye: A Meta Analysis and Meta Regression Study

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the effect of social skills training practices applied to children in early childhood on the social skills of the children trained by using meta-analysis method. The sample consisted of data obtained from 17 independent samples representing 869 participants from master’s and doctoral studies in line with the inclusion criteria. The comprehensive Meta-Analysis software in the MAJOR package of Jamovi version 1.6.15 was used for meta-analysis. With this program, the results of 17 separate studies were synthesized, and effect sizes were determined. In addition, it was examined by meta regression analysis whether there were differences in effect sizes between the publication types and publication years of the 17 studies (before 2016 and after 2016). As a result of the analysis, the random effects model shows a value of 0.862. The analysis shows that the confidence interval varies between 0.43 and 1.28 and the significance level is p < 0.001. The fact that the effect value is 0.862 means that the Social Skills levels of the children in the experimental group increased significantly as a result of training and similar practices within the scope of the comparison of the experimental and control groups. In terms of publication type, doctoral dissertations show a larger effect size (EB=1.41) than master’s theses (E =0.690), and the confidence intervals overlap. Considering the years of publication, there are differences in effect sizes between different years (Q=88.61, df =1, p=0.024). In particular, after 2016, it was determined that it showed the strongest positive effect (EB=1.37) with a high level of residual heterogeneity (I² = 79%).

Keywords

Early Childhood , Social Skills , Social Skills Training , Meta-Analysis , Meta Regression

References

Akgöz, S., Ercan, İ., & Kan, İ. (2004). Meta-analysis. Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine Journal, 30(2), 107–112.
Aksoy, P., & Erbay, F. (2021). A classroom-based training program involving preschool children for developing prerequisite learning skills and social skills: Ready to learn. Adıyaman University Journal of Educational Sciences, 11(2), 107–124. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1024204
Atmaca, R. N., Gültekin-Akduman, G., & Şepitci-Sarıbaş, M. (2020). An investigation of preschool children’s social skill levels in relation to certain demographic variables. International Journal of Educational Science and Technology, 6(2), 157–173. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/1197916
Aydın, A., & Özbey, S. (2022). Investigating the effect of a mindfulness-based education program on preschool children’s executive function levels. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Faculty of Education, 64, 441–465. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1106205
Becker, B. J. (2000). Multivariate meta-analysis. In Elsevier eBooks (pp. 499–525). https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-012691360-6/50018-5
Begg, C. B., & Mazumdar, M. (1994). Operating characteristics of a rank correlation test for publication bias. Biometrics, 50, 1088–1101. https://doi.org/10.2307/2533446
Bierman, K. L., Domitrovich, C. E., Nix, R. L., Gest, S. D., Welsh, J. A., Greenberg, M. T., & Gill, S. (2008). Promoting academic and social-emotional school readiness: The Head Start REDI program. Child Development, 79(6), 1802–1817. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01227.x
Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P., & Rothstein, H. R. (2005). Comprehensive Meta-analysis version 2. Biostat.
Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P., & Rothstein, H. R. (2021). Introduction to meta-analysis. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119558378
Boz, M., Uludağ, G., & Tokuç, H. (2018). The effect of family-involved social skills games on preschool children’s social skills. Gazi University Journal of Gazi Faculty of Education, 38(1), 137–158.

Card, N. A. (2012). Applied meta-analysis for social science research. The Guilford Press.
CASEL. (2023). What is SEL?. Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning.https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/
Cleophas, T. J., & Zwinderman, A. H. (2017). Modern meta-analysis review and update of methodologies. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55895-0
Cohen, A. J., Adler, N., Kaplan, S. J., Pelcovitz, D., & Mandel, F. G. (2002). Interactional effects of marital status and physical abuse on adolescent psychopathology. Child Abuse and Neglect, 26, 277–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0145-2134(01)00325-8
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Academic Press.
Cooper, H., Hedges, L., & Valentine, J. (2009). The handbook of research synthesis and meta-analysis (2nd ed.). Russell Sage Foundation.
Çağdaş, A., & Seçer-Şahin, Z. (2002). Social and moral development in children and adolescents. Nobel Publishing.
Dincer, C., Akgun, E., Deniz, K. Z., & Webster Stratton, C. (2025). Impact of the incredible Years® program on Turkish preschool teachers’ and children. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/10901027.2025.2493178
Domitrovich, C. E., Durlak, J. A., Staley, K. C., & Weissberg, R. P. (2017). Social-emotional competence: An essential factor for promoting positive adjustment and reducing risk in school children. Child Development, 88(2), 408–416.
Dökmen, Ü. (2007). Sociometry and psychodrama. Sistem Publishing.
Dubois, J. (2023). Multi-modal MRI sensitive to age: Focus on early brain development in infants. ArXiv, 2312.17513.https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2312.17513
Duval, S., & Tweedie, R. (2000). Trim and fill: A simple funnel-plot-based method of testing and adjusting for publication bias in meta-analysis. Biometrics, 56, 455-463. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0006-341X.2000.00455.x
Egger, M., Davey Smith, G., Schneider, M., & Minder, C. (1997). Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test. BMJ, 315(7109), 629–634. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.315.7109.629
Gleser, L. J., & Olkin, I. (1994). Stochastically dependent effect sizes. In H. Cooper & L. V. Hedges (Eds.), The handbook of research synthesis (pp. 357-376). Russell Sage Foundation.
Gözmen, E., & Uyanık Balat, G. (2022). The effect of a social-emotional learning-based program on the social skills of preschool children. Education and Science,47(210), 109–130.
Harrer, M., Cuijpers, P., Furukawa, T., & Ebert, D. (2021). Doing meta-analysis with R: A hands-on guide. Chapman and Hall/CRC. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003107347
Hedges, L. V., & Olkin, I. (1985). Statistical methods in meta-analysis. Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/1164953
Hedges, L. V., Tipton, E., & Johnson, M. C. (2010). Robust variance estimation in meta-regression with dependent effect size estimates. Research Synthesis Methods, 1(1), 39–65. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.5
Higgins, J. P., & Green, S. (Eds.). (2008). Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470712184
Higgins, J. P. T., Thompson, S. G., & Deeks, J. J. (2003). Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. BMJ, 327(7414), 557–560. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7414.557
Jones, S. M., Bailey, R., Brush, K., & Kahn, J. (2021). Navigating SEL from the inside out. Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Kapçı, E. G., & Aydın, B. (2020). The effects of social skills training for primary school students. Turkish Journal of Psychological Counseling and Guidance,10(58), 1–18.
Kapıkıran, N. A., Kapıkıran, N., İvrendi, A. B., & Adak, A. (2006). Social skills in preschool children: A status assessment. Pamukkale University Journal of Education, 19, 19–27.
Kayabali, H., & Özbey, S. (2024). Social skills training in early childhood: Its effect on psychological resilience. International Journal of Education & Well-Being, 2, 91–107. https://doi.org/10.62416/ijwb-49
Kayılı, G., & Arı, R. (2016). The Effect of Montessori Method Supported by Social Skills Training Program on Turkish Kindergarten Children’s Skills of Understanding Feelings and Social Problem Solving. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 4(12), 81-91.
Kayılı, G. (2020). Social development in the early years of life. In G. Ogelman (Ed.), Development in early childhood (2nd ed., pp. 229–236). Eğiten Publishing.
Langan, D., Higgins, J. P. T., Jackson, D., Bowden, J., Veroniki, A. A., Kontopantelis, E., Viechtbauer, W., & Simmonds, M. (2019). A comparison of heterogeneity variance estimators in simulated random-effects meta-analyses. Research Synthesis Methods, 10(1), 83–98. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.1316
Light, R. J., Singer, J. D., & Willett, J. B. (1994). The visual presentation and interpretation of meta-analyses. In M. Cooper & L. V. Hedges (Eds.), The handbook of research synthesis (pp. 295-320). Russell Sage Foundation.
Lipsey, M. W., & Wilson, D. B. (2001). Practical meta-analysis. SAGE.
Littell, J. H., Corcoran, J., & Pillai, V. (2008). Systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195326543.001.0001
Mahoney, J. L., Weissberg, R. P., Durlak, J. A., & Dusenbury, L. (2021). Social and emotional learning: A cultural analysis. Educational Psychologist, 56(4), 260–270.
Ministry of National Education [MoNE]. (2023). Basic Education Program. Ministry of National Education, Board of Education and Discipline.
Ministry of National Education [MoNE]. (2024). Preschool education curriculum. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Education, Directorate General for Basic Education. https://tegm.meb.gov.tr/dosya/okuloncesi/guncellenenokuloncesiegitimprogrami.pdf
Öğülmüş, S. (2021). Development and implementation of a social skills training program: A new model proposal. Ankara University Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences, 54(3), 567–589.
Özbey, S., & Aktemur Gürler, S. (2019). Examining the relationship between motivation levels, social skills, and problem behaviors of children attending preschool education institutions. International Journal of Turkish Literature, Culture and Education, 8(1), 587–602. https://doi.org/10.7884/teke.4426
Petitti, D. B. (2000). Meta-analysis, decision analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195133646.001.0001
Pigott, T. (2012). Advances in meta-analysis. Springer Science & Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2278-5
Rosenthal, R. (1979). The file drawer problem and tolerance for null results. Psychological Bulletin, 86(3), 638–641. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.86.3.638
Rothstein, H., Sutton, A. J., & Borenstein, M. (Eds.). (2005). Publication bias in meta-analysis: Prevention, assessment, and adjustments. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/0470870168
Samancı, O., & Uçan, Z. (2017). Social skills training in children. Atatürk University Journal of Graduate School of Social Sciences, 21(1), 281–288.
Samar, Y., & Demiriz, S. (2024). Examining the relationship between preschool children's self-regulation skills and social skills. Journal of the Institute of Educational Sciences of İnönü University, 11(21), 36–57. https://doi.org/10.29129/inujgse.1398926
Stefan, C. A., & Miclea, M. (2012). Social-emotional prevention program for preschool children: An analysis of a high-risk sample. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies, 12(1), 3–16. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256194592
Sterne, J. A., & Egger, M. (2005). Regression methods to detect publication and other bias in meta-analysis. In Publication bias in meta-analysis: Prevention, assessment, and adjustments (pp. 99-110). https://doi.org/10.1002/0470870168.ch6
Tanner-Smith, E., & Tipton, E. (2014). Robust variance estimation with dependent effect sizes: Practical considerations including a software tutorial in Stata and SPSS. Research Synthesis Methods, 5, 13-30. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrsm.1091
Taylor, R. D., Oberle, E., Durlak, J. A., & Weissberg, R. P. (2017). Promoting positive youth development through school-based social and emotional learning interventions: A meta-analysis of follow-up effects. Child Development, 88(4), 1156–1171.
Van den Noortgate, W., López-López, JA, Marín-Martínez, F., & Sánchez-Meca, J. (2013). Three-level meta-analysis of dependent effect sizes. Behavior Research Methods, 45, 576–594. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-012-0261-6
Viechtbauer, W. (2010). Conducting meta-analyses in R with the metafor package. Journal of Statistical Software, 36, 1-48. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v036.i03
Wen, X., Hsu, L., Lin, W., Zhang, H., & Shen, D. (2020). Co-evolution of Functional Brain Network at Multiple Scales during Early Infancy. ArXiv, abs/2009.06899. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2009.06899
Yağcı, A., Karaman, M., Kılıç, İ. A., Bestil, M., Aslan, S., & Erdoğdu, A. (2023). The importance of preschool education and recommendations for families. Social Sciences Studies Journal, 9, 7852–7872. https://doi.org/10.29228/sssj.71050
Yavuzer, Y., & Dağlıoğlu, E. H. (2022). The effect of a drama-based social skills training program on children’s social adjustment levels. Journal of Child Development and Education, 5(1), 23–39.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Specialist Studies in Education (Other)

Journal Section

Systematic Reviews and Meta Analysis

Authors

Nisanur Kılıç
0009-0001-3945-251X
Türkiye

Gökhan Kayılı ^*
0000-0001-7959-4128
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

November 4, 2025

Publication Date

November 1, 2025

Submission Date

July 3, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 29, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 12 Number: 6

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.25.88.12.6

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA84TU24FC

APA

Kılıç, N., & Kayılı, G. (2025). Investigating the Effectiveness of Social Skills Training in Early Childhood in Türkiye: A Meta Analysis and Meta Regression Study. Participatory Educational Research, 12(6), 237-259. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.25.88.12.6