Who Learns More? Achievement Scores following Web-Based versus Classroom Instruction in Psychology Courses

Abstract

This study examined 145 students' course grades and scores on a standardised achievement test (the Area Concentration Achievement Test [ACAT] in Psychology) following completion of web-based, web-enhanced or classroom courses in basic learning. We found that students in web-based courses had lower course grades than those in either classroom-based or web-enhanced courses. Moreover, students in web-based or web-enhanced courses scored lower on the ACAT Human Learning subtest than did students in classroom-based instruction. Thus we found poorer outcomes associated with web-based rather than classroom-based instruction. Perhaps neither standardised tests nor grades capture the strengths of web-based pedagogy. More research is needed to assess learning outcomes across various modes of instruction in order to identify variables that can maximise success of web-based instruction and perhaps also to better capture the strengths of web-based pedagogy.