This study investigated the efficiency of video as an additional teaching aid for a statistics course offered by the Fernuniversitat (Open University, West Germany). A total of 65 distance students and internal students from the Universities of Bochum and Dortmund were divided into five groups to test the effects of five alternative treatments: (1) written original version of material for course entitled Econometrics I (version O); (2) a lexivisually and didactically developed written version (version A); (3) video as a pre-orientation to version A; (4) the text of version A with video used to review course materials; and (5) video as a pre-orientation to version O. Results of a comprehensive test indicated that all three test groups which were supported by video in their textual treatment obtained higher average point scores in the main test, although the expected time-savings with the pre-orientation video were not realized. There were no significant differences in performance between the groups using the alternative versions of the written materials. It is suggested that future studies should use larger groups, greater homogeneity of test subjects (i.e., external students only), a larger number of playback facilities, and a shorter total test duration. (CGD)