Forty-five children, ages seven to eight, were required to catch playground balls of various sizes and colors. The smallest ball (6 inches) was caught significantly better than larger ones. Although the main effect for color was nonsignificant, children caught preferred-color balls significantly better than others. Males caught better than…

Children ages 4, 8, 12, 16, and adults responded to 24 paintings concerning three subject matters and varying in realism and space depiction. Five-factor analysis of variance indicated that the triple interaction of subject matter, realism, and spatial depth was significant for all. Preferences are discussed by age group. (SJL)

This article examines distance learning from a gender perspective. In any new area of enterprise, expectations have an important effect on planning, implementation, and evaluation. When it comes to distance learning, a variety of images of what this exciting new technology will look like and what it can empower us to achieve will determine how we…

The purpose of this study was to provide a task on which subjects could indicate their preferences for linear or painterly art work and to determine if such preferences are related to some traditional measures of cognitive/perceptual style, chosen because they appear to relate to whole/part perception. (Author)

This paper identifies three rationales in the relevant literature for closing the gender gap in computing: economic, cultural and political. Each rationale implies a different set of indicators of present inequalities, disparate goals for creating equality, and distinct principles for software and web site design that aims to help girls overcome…

A study examined the responses of children at several age levels to seven visual elements presented to them on book jackets. Subjects ranged in age from kindergarten to fifth grade. The pairs of book jackets that were selected represented contrasting treatments of seven visual elements: (1) action, (2) color, (3) style, (4) characters, (5) detail,…

Although there are efforts to equalize educational methods and materials, some differences between males and females may be better served by emphasizing rather than neutralizing gender. One such point is in the area of visual imagery. Studies have shown that imagery preferred by males and females differs in certain visual characteristics. The…

A gender gap between boys and girls has been reported in computer usage. Graphics may play a role in bridging that gap because of their motivational value. The literature reports gender differences regarding graphic content, color, detail, size, and movement. Based on these findings, preliminary design guidelines for graphics in computer-based…

Describes a study of students at Purdue University that examined the roles of gender, right- versus left-handedness, and mouse experience in preferences concerning the placement of icon buttons within hypermedia user-interface designs. Response rate is examined, order of presentation is discussed, and further research is suggested. (11 references)…

This study investigated the effects of audio and text density on the achievement, time-in-program, and attitudes of 134 undergraduates. Data concerning the subjects' preexisting computer skills and experience, as well as demographic information, were also collected. The instruction in visual design principles was delivered by computer and included…

This study examined whether children communicate themselves via visual images and whether adults can better understand children by viewing images they use to express themselves. An extracurricular course was designed to help students become familiar with computers and the Internet; objectives included creating a word document, sending and reading…