Unlike the traditional multiple-choice (MC) format, the discrete-option multiple-choice (DOMC) format does not necessarily reveal all answer options to an examinee. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the reduced exposure of item content affects test security. We conducted an experiment in which participants were allowed to view…

Four hundred fifteen undergraduate students in an Introduction to Psychology course voluntarily reported their use of flashcards on three exams as well as answered other questions dealing with flashcard use (e.g., when did a student first use flashcards). Almost 70% of the class used flashcards to study for one or more exams. Students who used…

To date, research involving homemade PowerPoint games as an instructional tool has not shown statistically significant gains in student performance. This paper examines the results of a study comparing the performance of students in a high school chemistry course who created homemade PowerPoint games as a test review with the students who used a…

It has been reported (Lei, Barlett, Gorney, & Herschbach, 2010; Sikorski et al., 2002) that only a minority of college students actually read the course textbook or other assigned readings in preparation for examinations. Suggested strategies to remedy this situation include quizzes (Ruscio, 2001; Ryan, 2006), study worksheets (Aagaard &…

This paper is an exploratory study of Professor Don Jansiewicz's GAME of POLITICS (The Game) simulation. The course instructor employs The Game in his introductory American Politics class as a learning tool for better understanding the legislative-executive process. Our exploratory study used legislative-executive process questions as part of two…

Even after repeated instruction, first year college chemistry students are often unable to apply stoichiometry knowledge to equilibrium and acid-base chemistry problems. The dynamic and interactive capabilities of online technology may facilitate stoichiometry instruction that promotes more meaningful learning. This study compares a…

One of three different types of study guide materials was given to teachers whose classes watched televised music lessons. One guide provided a description of the program content, suggested activities to be performed before and after the program, and other supplementary material; a second guide provided only a description of the program content;…

Studies the effectiveness of the analogical study guide, a structured study activity to accompany assigned reading. Compares its learning outcomes with outcomes of two unstructured activities commonly assigned to accompany reading: essay writing and self-questioning. Finds that superior prose-learning occurs when study activities are carefully…

Subjects were assigned randomly to one of four treatments: study guide only, summary audiotape, compressed speech audiotape, and no review. Groups using the first two techniques demonstrated significantly better retention than a nonreview control group; no significant difference was found between the group using compressed speech and the control…

Relatively few experimental studies have examined the effectiveness of study guides on student exam performance. The authors compared exam scores for students who were given instructor-generated study guides versus students who generated their own study guides. Participants were undergraduates enrolled in three identical sections of an…

Subjects completed a self-paced lesson on math rules in which the number of supporting examples was adapted to pretest scores through program control, selected through learner control, or kept constant (nonadaptive). Program control means were consistently highest while learner control means were lowest. (Author/BW)

Investigates the comparative effects of three different types of study guides--interlocking, noninterlocking, and teacher constructed--on comprehension and postreading oral discussion. Finds that study guides are worthwhile instructional aids; noninterlocking and interlocking study guides produced higher comprehension test scores; and the…

A study investigated the use of study guides as instructional tools and compared the effectiveness of study guides with and without analogies. Seventy-four undergraduate students in three upper division education classes studied three passages about three obscure religions (Manichaeism, Jainism, and the Druze religion) with and without the aid of…

Two studies were conducted to examine the effectiveness of using study guides with learning-disabled, remedial, and regular education students enrolled in secondary social studies and science classes. Results indicated that study guides, whether teacher-directed or student-directed, produced significantly higher performance than self-study.…