Past studies of media credibility have yielded contradictory results. In some research, television has the most credibility, while in others, radio or newspapers have the most. A probable reason for this is the way survey questions are phrased. In asking for a "major source of news," some questions focus on the "most likely medium" for news in…

Two studies were devised to test the relationship between response mode, trait and state anxiety, and achievement in a computer-assisted instruction (CAI) course containing both familiar and technical materials. In the first study, 148 subjects were divided into four response mode conditions: reading (R), covert, modified multiple choice, and…

The effects of behavioral objectives and/or criterion test items on the learning process were investigated. The 123 subjects were randomly assigned to either an example-only, an objective-example, a test-example, or an objective-test-example group. Objectives significantly increased the amount of time subjects spent studying the example displays.…

Fourteen elementary teachers evaluated the quality and usefulness of 146 tapes produced by the Clinton Pilot Cassette Center, Minneapolis, Minn. Teachers' opinions, rather than tests on students, were the basis of the ratings. Judging from the ratings, most of the cassettes appear suitable for use with educationally disadvantaged youth and were in…

A study tested two alternative theories about the relation of color and visual learning: that realistic color serves to facilitate retention of instructional material and that all color functions only as a coding device which facilitates storage and retrieval of information. It also tried to discern an interaction between learner IQ and color…

Five methods of teaching the Bill of Rights to high school students were compared: (1) linear programed instruction used in school, (2) linear programed material used as homework plus discussion in class, (3) a textbook format presentation of the linear program used in class, (4) the text version of the program used as homework plus discussion in…

Addresses the implicit assumption that instructional media represent meaningful experimental variables independent of instructional content or strategy. Results of computer-based instruction (CBI) studies (both well-designed and flawed) and meta-analyses are reviewed to support the authors' position that this assumption is invalid, and new…

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…

Reviews study of 80 undergraduate sociology students which compared the effects of two types of sequencing in computer assisted instruction: (1) linear, or fixed, and (2) flip, or branching. Results indicate that students in the flip sequence condition performed better on comprehension measures but not on retention measures. (Author/LRW)

Effectiveness of two versions of computer software used as an electronic blackboard to present geometric concepts to ninth grade students was compared. The experimental version incorporated color, animation, and nonverbal sounds as stimuli; the no-stimulus version was monochrome. Both immediate and delayed learning were significantly better for…

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…

Investigates the effectiveness of videotape recording use in teacher education by comparing the progress of students who were videotaped while practicing classroom skills through microteaching with the progress of students who were not videotaped. The groups which used videotaping made significantly more progress in their mastery of specified…