Comparative effectiveness of televised and large classes and of small sections

• Published in: Journal of educational psychology 1957-10, Vol.48 (6), p.371-382
• Main Authors: Siegel, Laurence, Macomber, F. G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Classroom Environment; College Students; Human; Student Attitudes; Teacher Effectiveness Evaluation
• ISSN: 0022-0663; 1939-2176
• DOI: 10.1037/h0048074

Comparisons were made of results secured from experimental and control sections of 8 undergraduate courses at Miami University. Experimental sections were taught either as large classes or by means of closed-circuit television. Control sections were taught by conventional methods. Achievement tests and attitude measures provided data for this series of investigations. Some findings: (a) acquisition of subject-matter knowledge, as measured by objectivity retest performance, was not affected adversely by assignment to experimental sections rather than to control sections; (b) academic ability did not interact with type of section assignment as a complex determinant of achievement in any of TV courses; (c) student ratings of courses were less favorable in experimental than in control sections; (d) student ratings of instructors were not affected adversely by TV; (e) student attitudes regarding TV instruction were not held uniformly across courses, however, students in all large classes preferred small class instruction; and (f) high ability students tended to be less favorable to TV and large classes than did low ability students.