Tutorials for Software [microform] : A Comparison of the Appleworks Software Tutorial with Pre-Entered Data and an Experimental Tutorial with User Entered Data / Toni L. Steil
- Bib ID:
- 5460456
- Format:
- Book and Microform
- Author:
- Steil, Toni L
- Description:
-
- [Washington, D.C.] : Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse, 1985
- 22 p.
- Summary:
-
A study was devised, using 20 undergraduate students chosen at random from an introductory psychology course, to measure the teaching effectiveness of two computer tutorials oriented to the spreadsheet portion of Appleworks. The first tutorial provided a data disk with pre-entered data for the user to manipulate, but no error correction information; the second, which included error correction information, required users to set up a spreadsheet format using a given example, then to enter their own data, and finally to manipulate the data using the program functions. Tutorials were evaluated on four dependent variables: (1) measure of time taken to use them; (2) user satisfaction ratings taken from questionnaires; (3) errors made as measured after completion of the tutorial; and (4) requests for assistance from the experimenter. Results indicate a significantly higher rating for use of the experimental tutorial, which required the user to enter the data, over the manufacturer's tutorial with its data disk; comparable time was spent on task measurements, although subsequent errors were more frequent during the use of the manufacturer's tutorial; and those utilizing the manufacturer's tutorial required more assistance from the experimenter than did the experimental group, suggesting that the experimental tutorial provided clearer instructions. The software tutorial questionnaire and scoring criteria are appended. (JB)
- Notes:
-
- ERIC Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western Psychological Association (San Jose, CA, April 18-21, 1985).
- Researchers.
- May also be available online. Address as at 14/8/18: https://eric.ed.gov/
- Reproduction:
- Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.
- Subject:
- Available From:
- ERIC
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary Dramatic Musical
- Published status:
- Published
- Publication date:
- 1985
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