An outline of a conceptual framework evolved in the 1940's for the use of the Instructional Film Program at The Pennsylvania State College (University Park) is given in this report for the benefit of research workers in the field of instructional sound motion pictures and also for researchers in the related fields of mass instruction by radio and television. The classification is composed of five major areas: (1) psychological learning principles and their relationship to learning from films, (2) film characteristics and their influence on learning, (3) development of equipment and procedures for testing instructional films, (4) research on methods of utilizing films in instruction, and (5) reviews of pertinent literature and theoretical systems. References are appended. (Author/MF)