A controlled experiment studying effects of adding voice-over sound to a silent electronic text service tested program acceptability and memory retention. Results indicate no significant differences in ratings for acceptability although the test for memory retention resulted in significantly higher scores for the sound group on recall and…

Two experiments investigated effects of pictures on kindergarten children learning to read nouns. Results indicate instructions to associate word and picture and viewing of the word prior to presentation of the picture failed to improve performance. Children who learned words in absence of pictures recognized more words on post-learning trials.…

The purpose of the study was to determine if captions displayed on instructional video programs interfere with learning in hearing audiences. Eighty hearing undergraduate students enrolled in lower division education classes were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Each subject completed a questionnaire to collect self-report data on sex, age,…

Describes a study which compared film and written material with regard to effects produced by order in which conflicting information is presented. Results indicate film is more influential and better recalled than conflicting written information: conflicting paragraphs produce a primacy effect, whereas analogous film segments produce no order…

Briefly reviews current research on the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and microcomputers. The Hawthorne Effect and research results for elementary, secondary, and college level students are discussed, courseware requirements are described, and research studies showing positive and negative effects of CAI are listed. (LRW)

This study investigated the effectiveness of videotape as a medium for communicating skills in audiovisual instruction to education students at a university. Results indicate videotape mediated instruction can be better for developing skills in some practical aspects of audiovisual instruction than the lecture method. (MBR)

Critiques comparative research and evaluation methods used to assess effectiveness of interactive video and proposes alternative models of research design that go beyond comparative analysis into understanding and control of the effective dimensions of interactive video, i.e., controlled correlation; instructional events, cognitive psychology, and…

This study contrasted college-level computer assisted instruction modules with various ratios of higher cognitive to factual questions and highlights to determine the effectiveness of highlights and question formats. Results indicate that, regardless of the ratio of higher cognitive to factual questions, modules containing questions are superior…

Describes the final investigation of a sequential series of studies to determine whether videodisc technology is educationally effective and cost efficient. The study compared training time, posttest success, student stress, and student satisfaction in U.S. Army paramedic students in a nonvideodisc control group and limited-access and full-access…

This critical examination of the assumption that computer-based instruction enhances student learning and performance over traditional means summarizes arguments from past and present analyses of research, examines media attributes or symbol system theories, and presents evidence that much research is susceptible to rival hypotheses. (MBR)

Describes a study in London, Ontario, in which preschool children heard two 10-sentence stories which were accompanied by two pictures of sentence's subject and object, a picture of sentence's subject, a picture of sentence's object, or no pictures. Only the two-picture illustration produced significantly better learning relative to no-picture…

This study investigated the use of word-visuals to aid university students' recall by examining relationships that exist among levels of learners' recall resulting from different presentation modes; between levels of field-dependent and field-independent learners' recall; and between levels of field-dependent and field-independent learners' recall…

Students in an introduction to special education class were divided into four groups to investigate the effectiveness of computer assisted modules with varying highlight and question placement. Results indicated questions and highlights were superior to straight text; questions were better for objective test items; and students preferred…

This study investigated the effects of presentation mode--microcomputer versus paper text presentation--school grade, and reading ability on third and fifth graders' attention to and comprehension of simple reading tasks. Results indicate that despite the fact children overwhelmingly preferred the computer presentation, it did not result in better…

Describes two experiments conducted with undergraduate students to determine effects of field dependence/independence on visual characteristics and presentation modes. The first studied content information recall from still projected visuals of different sizes and types of illustrations; the second studied visual-location task performance and…