An Experiment with Radio Instruction in an Introductory Psychology Course

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Abstract
A study was conducted using a combination of radio lectures and small group discussion meetings to teach an introductory psychology course to resident freshmen. There were two radio lectures each week, broadcast at 3:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and again at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; these were supplemented by small group meetings on Fridays, during which films were sometimes presented, and during which there was an opportunity for questions to be raised and points in the lecture to be clarified. About one-third of the 2,300 freshmen were taught by means of this radio procedure and about two-thirds were taught by the usual lecture method; the results of the two methods were then compared. Variables such as personality of instructors, type of test, test questions, and time allowed for testing were controlled. Also, all radio students were assured that their grades would not be penalized in any way as a result of this experimental procedure. Results indicated that, in terms of scores on objective tests in the course, there were no significant differences between the radio group and the regular lecture group. However the attitudes of the students toward these two types of instruction were quite different. Those who took the course by means of the radio procedure were generally rather negative in their attitudes toward this method of instruction.

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