Technology and the Mind: Does Learning to Code Improve Cognitive Skills?

Modern technology permeates almost every area in society and thus necessitates the development of new skillsets--including computer coding. Many leaders around the world consequently encourage students to learn to code, as this may help them to develop other skills, including problem solving, reasoning, and numeracy. The current study, based on a meta-analysis, puts to test this largely accepted claim that learning how to code improves other cognitive skills. We identified 105 relevant studies that examined the transfer of coding skills to other cognitive skills, such as reasoning, problem solving, creativity, literacy, and numeracy. These studies provided more than 150 effect sizes and followed experimental and quasi-experimental designs across all educational levels. A three-level random-effects model was specified to the resultant dataset to summarize the transfer effects. Hedges' g formed the basis for this modelling approach. The aggregated size of the transfer effects--independent of the context of transfer--was positive and mediocre (g = 0.49, 95% CI = [0.37, 0.61]), and showed considerable variation within and between studies. At the same time, this effect differed across transfer contexts--for skills closer to computer coding, effects were larger (near transfer) than for skills that overlap only marginally with coding (far transfer). Moreover, the purpose of coding moderated the overall effects. Our response to the question whether learning to code improves other cognitive skills is positive: Indeed, positive transfer effects can be detected. Nevertheless, learning to code has differential rather than uniform effects on other cognitive skills.