An experimental evaluation of a computer based study management system¹

Abstract

Abstract A computer assisted study management system (CAISMS) was experimentally investigated in the context of an introductory college economics course. The 169 students in the CAISMS and control classes attended similar lecture‐discussion classes and received an identical battery of achievement tests and questionnaires during the semester. Results from a multivariate analysis of covariance indicated that the CAISMS group scored significantly higher (p <.05) on achievement tests than the control group. In addition, analysis of variance showed that the attitudes of CAISMS students were more positive (p <.01) than were those of control students. Attrition rates were approximately equal in the two groups. Notes The research described herein was supported by the Navy Personnel Research and Development Center and Advanced Research Projects Agency under Contract N61339–73‐C‐0078. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Edward J. Wietecha, Laura L. Klemt, and H. Richard Smock. The first author's address is Department of Educational Psychology, Education Building, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801.