Our aim in the current study was to examine how different diary methods might impact the results of involuntary memory studies. We compared three different commonly used diary methods, record all memories experienced per day, record up to two memories per day, or record only the first two per day. Results showed that the record-all group had the…

While online and face-to-face (F2F) courses have been compared in numerous studies, there has been a lack of focus on online chemistry courses. This study was conducted to compare the success of students instructed in an online or F2F general chemistry course for non-majors. One hundred forty six exam questions were categorized according to…

This study investigated the effects of multimedia presentations on the efficiency of learning scientific information (i.e. information on basic anatomy of human brains and their functions, the definition of cognitive psychology, and the structure of human memory). Experiment 1 investigated whether the modality effect could be observed when the…

Three strategies frequently employed in individualized instruction were tested in a three-way repeated measures design that involved eight computer exercises over a period of 6 weeks. Exercises compared individual with paired study, pretests with no pretests, and serial with parallel mastery. Posttests revealed an advantage for individual study…

Three studies investigated whether and under what conditions the addition of on-screen text would facilitate the learning of a narrated scientific multimedia explanation. The overall pattern of results can be explained by a dual-processing model of working memory, which has implications for the design of multimedia instruction. (Author)

Undergraduate students who were given specific instructions to form mental images while reading a text passage containing spatial information scored significantly higher than the control group on a drawing posttest. Significant correlations also resulted between the test scores and both reading time and use of imagery. The use of imagery…

In order to examine the influence of interactive media on children's story memory, first-grade children experienced a computer-based story in one of four presentation modes, two of which were interactive. In the interaction groups, there was no relation between the amount of interaction with the story and subsequent memory. (Author)

This dissertation presents the results of an investigation of visual mental imagery as a strategy hypothesized to increase the amount of interaction with content material and therefore the level of information processing and acquisition, and to assist information retrieval on posttests. Four treatments were used in a crossed, randomized two by two…

Two assessment endeavors were undertaken to determine the relative impact of alphanumeric and graphic instructional mediators upon intentional and incidental learning outcomes in applied instructional contexts. The intent of these investigations was to determine the feasibility of embedding strategic organizational cues within instruction to…

This report describes a procedure for developing multimedia instructions that are "optimized" according to certain criteria, and in particular, compares the effect on performance in building from memory using: (1) interactive videodisc-based assembly instructions or (2) passive videotape instructions. It was found that the group…

A research project involving 16 experiments investigated the nature of the encoding process for verbal materials, particularly differences arising from mode of presentation. The results showed that a change in mode of presentation of items produced a recovery from interference in short term retention. Since intermodal interference was lower than…

Current issues in educational communications and technology are addressed in this collection of 35 papers, in which research reports predominate. Topics discussed include factors related to the learner, e.g., field dependence/independence, reading ability, learning strategies, and cognitive style. Presentation format and media and stimulus…

Questions related to the instructional design of computer-based educational systems were addressed in a study in which college psychology majors completed a computer-based course in statistics using instructional units developed to teach the desired knowledge within the context of situations to which the knowledge is relevant--a technique called…

Fixed and moving-camera videotaped versions of a scene were shown to adult participants to test hypothesis that perspective changes produced by television camera movement provide viewers with information about the environment being viewed not available to viewers of fixed images. Moving-camera viewers better understood and remembered a scene's…