A comparison of the effects of a programmed instruction method and a lecture/laboratory method on achievement in a course in reference materials

강의식교수법과 프로그램식교수법에 의한 참고정보원의 학습효과 비교연구

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of programmed instruction versus lecture and discussion method on the knowledge of basic reference sources among undergraduate library and information science students. The hypotheses of the study were: 1. Programmed instruction will be more effective than the lecture/discussion method with regard to academic achievement. 2. There will be a significant difference in learning time between the experimental and the control groups. Seventy-eight library and information science students were participated m the study from the two universities in Chungchong Province. A programmed instruction manual, including 4-types of reference sources-dictionary, encyclopaedia, bibliography, indexes and abstracts, 40-item multiple choice post-test, and a questionnaire for the students' attitude toward programmed instruction were developed specifically for this research. The post-test only control-group design was selected for this experimental study. Students were given instruction on the specific reference titles in dictionary, encyclopedia, bibliography, indexes and abstracts. The control group was instructed by the lecture and discussion method while the experimental group completed a programmed instruction manual by themselves. Both the control and the experimental group were tested right after the instruction of 4-types of reference sources. In addition, a questionnaire asking students' attitude toward programmed instruction was administered to the experimental group. The findings from this study are summarized as follows: 1. The results showed that there were no significant difference in the mean of the post test score between the two groups. Therefore, programmed instruction is viable as an alternative method of instruction in the teaching of reference sources. 2. There was a significant difference in the mean of time spending for the leaning of bibliography, indexes and abstracts between the two groups. Accordingly, programmed instruction proved to be more efficient than the conventional lecture/discussion method in terms of learning time. 3. Students showed positive response to programmed instruction and evaluated it very interesting and challenging. In conclusion, the programmed instruction method was just as effective as the lecture/discussion method in the teaching of reference sources. And students' attitude toward the programmed instruction was favorable enough to secure a continued use of this method for the teaching of reference sources.