The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

February, 1943 Experimental Research in Audio-Visual Education By DAVID GOODMAN. Ph.D. Title: THE EFFECT OF TWO SOUND SLIDE- FILMS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DESIR- ABLE SOCIAL ATTITUDES Investigator: Janey Evelyn Haneline l-"or the degree of Master of Arts, completed 1940— George Peabody College for Teachers Purpose The purpose of this analysis is to investigate the effect of two sound-slide films in the development of desirable social attitudes. Procedure Two sound-slide films prepared by the Metropolitan Branch of the Department of Visual Instruction of the National Education Association for the Committee on Scientific Aids to Learning were used. One of these films, entitled Teamwork, deals with c<x)peration in a democ- racy as illustrated in a high school situation. The other, en- titled Your World of Tomorrovc, deals with the clioice of a vocation. In the judgment of those who saw the film, Teamwork was better planned and presented for teacliing purposes than Your World of Tomorrow: The latter seemed also to have a stronger appeal for boys than for girls. Method Of Proceuuke In the present study, each of the sound-slide films was pre- sented to the different groups under as nearly comparable conditions as possible. The same mechanical e(|uipment was used for all groups. With each group assembled the same two minute explanation was given concerning the purpose of the study. This e.xplanation was followed by the initial test, and then the presentation of the sound-slide fdm under the various experimental conditions. The presentations in every group were made by the writer. The subjects, 62 boys and 60 girls, were high school pupils of Peabody Demonstration School, which served as the laboratory for this experiment. These subjects were divided into four groups: Group I, consisting of 27 pupils, 10 boys and 17 girls, was presented the film accompanied by teacher's lecture. Group II, consisting of 30 pupils, 14 boys and 16 girls, was presented the film accompanied by the record, permitted to discuss the film after the presentation, and shown the film witli the record a second time. Group III, consisting of 35 pupils, 23 boys and 12 girls, was presented the film only once accompanied by the record. Group IV, composed of 30 pupils, 15 b<jys and 15 girls, served as a control group. The present analysis differs from previous investigations in that these sound-slide films, prepared by the Committee on Scientific Aids to Learning, were planned primarily to develop desirable social attitudes among high school pupils. Accompanying each film is an objective test prepared ten- tatively by the Committee for measurement of the attitudes developed by these films. (No attempt was made to deter- mine the validity or reliability of these tests. However, an ef- fort was made to have them cover the important items pre- sented in the verbal continuity accompanying each film.) Each test was given three times; once before the i)resentation of the film (Test A), next immediately following the presentation of the film (Test B), and third, as a retention test after an interval of forty days (Test C). Results Teamwork 1. The method used with Group I is no more effective than no presentation at all, as shown by comparison with Group IV^ 2. Group II shows a greater gain after the showing of the film than does Group III, while Group IV remains prac- tically unchanged. 3. Group III retains the same score on Test C as on Test (^Concluded on page 75) Page 65