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Background and Context: The use of block-based programming environments is purported to be a good way to gently introduce novice computer programmers to computer programming. A small, but growing body of research examines the differences between block-based and text-based programming environments.

Objective: Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the overall effect of block-based versus text-based programming environments on both cognitive and affective student learning outcomes.

Method: Five academic databases were searched to identify literature meeting our inclusion criteria and resulted in 13 publications with 52 effect size comparisons on both cognitive and affective outcomes.

Findings: We found small effect size (g = 0.245; p = .137; with a 95% confidence interval of −0.078 to 0.567) in favor of block-based programming environments on cognitive outcomes, and a trivial effect size …