7. Comparative and non-comparative evaluation in educational technology

•First study :-
Non comparative study :
Technology-based science classroom : What factors facilitate learning? Authors: Rohaida Mohd. Saat , Kamariah Abu Bakar Journal :- Journal Pendidik dan Pendidikan, Jil. 20, 1–19, 2005 •

Second study:-
Comparative study:-
Comparing online and mail survey research methods in longitudinal research Authors:- Orland Hoeber, Erwin Karreman, Harold Riemer, Larena Hoeber Study from: www.hoeber.net/download/2006_nassm.pdf . _____________________________________________________
Purpose:-

The Purpose of the first study was to explore the use of specifically designed web-based instructional materials in teaching these science process skills, particularly the skill of controlling variables. Where The Purpose second study research comparing the effectiveness of online and more traditional survey .

Method:-

In the first study the participants comprised of 19 fifth grade students: 11 girls and 8 boys of middle class socioeconomic background.They were chosen based on purposive or purposeful sampling .The study was conducted in the school's computer laboratory.The students were divided into groups of two's and three's. There were a total of seven groups.

Three of these groups had a computer each, while the other four groups had to share computers. Audio recorders were placed at each of the groups . The study utilized a specially designed WBI material, Science Process Skills in Scientific Exploration (SPicE), a prototype version and focused only on the skill of controlling variables .

On the other hand , second study the basis for this comparison comes from an ongoing longitudinal study involving youth hockey players and their parent (s). During the recruitment phase, the parents were contacted via the telephone or mail and invited to participate. Those who agreed were given the option of participating via mail or online using identical in content questionnaires consisting of 109 items investigating psychological and hockey related issues.

Results :-
The result of the first study is : The analyses revealed four factors influencing students' acquisition of science process skills. The four factors identified have facilitated as well as inhibited the students' acquisition of the science process skills. The factors are: (1) design features of the WBI, (2) physical setting of the computer laboratory, (3) role of the teacher, and (4) students' readiness.

On the other hand the result of second study is: more traditional methods of interfacing with participants (i.e., mail, telephone, etc.) are time consuming and expensive, also they appear to be more effective in encouraging people to begin or continue participation. the online questionnaires have a clear benefit in cost and effort but structure restricts the participants from providing further explanations of their responses.
There are benefit to using online methods when the number of participants , is sufficiently large or for longitudinal studies.

Disadvantage :-
•Disadvantage of the first study the number of participants is not suitable they need more that 30 student to find out the factors that influence learning in a web-based learning environment.

•Disadvantage of the second study They using a lot of questionnaires items investigating psychological and hockey so that make participants feel boring and may don't complete the questionnaires .

References :-

Non comparative …
http://www.usm.my/education/publication/JPPRohaida(1-19)B.pdfAccessed 5-4-2009

comparative …
http://www.hoeber.net/download/2006_nassm.pdfaccessed 4-4-2009

Comparative and Non comparative study

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