Studies on high school students, college students and military personnel were reviewed to observe the results of an objective investigation into the effectiveness of different training methods in school situations. The instructional aim was to inform the students of facts or principles in some subject matter. The review was primarily of the literature on training methods since 1940, and covered, among others, the utilization of instructional films, television, and discussion methods and laboratory exercises. Also reviewed were discussions of various study techniques, program length, aptitude test results, repetition, testing, and review. It was found that over variegated subject matter there is no clear evidence of the superiority of one method of presentation, and that effective instruction appears to depend largely on factors internal to the lesson, rather than on the method of presentation. Repetition, pre-course briefing of objectives, and summaries are among the factors which are liable to produce effective learning. Recommendations were made for research on the conduct of practical exercises and laboratory instructions, and also on the effect of conceptual and informational type instruction on later performance in practical situations. A detailed reference list is included. (SH)