Guided by assumptions from the cognitive-affective theory of learning with media, we conducted a teaching experiment to corroborate past correlational research that suggested instructor misbehaviors, in the form of antagonism toward students, impede students' cognitive learning. Participants were 472 undergraduate students who were randomly…

Teaching practices can create a range of autonomy-supportive or controlling learning environments. Research shows that autonomy-supportive techniques are more conducive to positive learning outcomes than controlling techniques. This study focused on simple verbal and behavioral cues that any teacher could use to create a positive learning…

College students ("n" = 846) enrolled in a general education course were randomly assigned to either an arousal (experimental) or no-arousal (control) group. The experimental group was exposed to a topic-relevant, 90-second external stimulus (a technique used to elevate arousal and focus attention). The control group listened to the…

A quasi-experimental design was used to investigate changes in learning outcomes for students enrolled in large-lecture/break-out sections versus in self-contained sections of the basic communication course. More precisely, the study explores the relationship between communication apprehension, immediacy and learning outcomes for the two class…

This pre-post field study compared effects of a coping model (CM) and a lecture/discussion style on use of redirection, general praise, and paraphrasing by 48 undergraduates in an elementary health methods course. Lecture subjects had no significant changes. CM subjects change significantly in use of praise and paraphrasing. (Author/SJL)

A study of 47 clinical medical faculty teaching behaviors had teachers report their teaching behaviors in four areas: interactive skills; knowledge or abilities important for students to develop; factors influencing curriculum development; and sources of pedagogical assistance. Subjects' written simulations on teaching techniques, curriculum…

A study compared the effect of two different lecture pause procedures (pauses used for reflection and notetaking; pauses used for discussion) on the recall and note completeness of 27 college students with learning disabilities. Results show independent reflection meant fewer ideas partially recorded in notes, but otherwise no significant…

The influence of the Doctor Fox effect on student ratings on instruction was examined. The idea for the Doctor Fox effect stemmed from the work of Erving Goffman and his notion that expressive behavior may influence an audience as much or more than substance when there is little time or reason for the audience to evaluate the presentation (1950).…

The present study drew on existing theories and research to further uncover the mysteries of the college teaching/learning paradigm, particularly the causal links between effective instruction and student learning of novel lecture material. The experimental design involved 380 introductory psychology students and consisted of a Lecture…