Skip to main content
Log in

Research on audio-tutorial instruction: A meta-analysis of comparative studies

  • Published:
Research in Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present article describes a statistical synthesis of results from 48 comparative studies of an innovative method of college teaching, Postlethwait's Audio-Tutorial or A-T approach. The analysis showed that in general A-T instruction has a significant but small overall effect on student achievement in college courses, and it has no significant effect on student course evaluations or on course completions. Findings were similar for well-designed and less-well-designed studies included in this analysis, and they were also similar for studies carried out at different types of schools and in different subject areas. Results reported in journals, however, were more favorable to A-T than results found in dissertations and other unpublished reports.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bloom, B. S. Learning for mastery.Evaluation Comment, 1968,I(2, Whole No. 2).

  • Bracht, G. H., & Glass, G. V. The external validity of experiments.American Educational Research Journal 1968,5 437–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bredderman, T. A meta-analysis of elementary school science process curricula. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, April 1979.

  • Campbell, D. T., & Stanley, J. C. Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for research on teaching. In N. L. Gage (Ed.),Handbook of research on teaching. Chicago: Rand-McNally, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J.Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. New York: Academic Press, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cross, K. P.Accent on learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubin, R., & Taveggia, T. C.The teaching-learning paradox. Eugene: University of Oregon Press, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, K. M., & MacWhinney, B. AV Autotutorial instruction: A review of evaluative research.Audio-Visual Communications Review 1976,24 229–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glass, G. V. Primary, secondary, and meta-analysis of research.Educational Researcher 1976,10 3–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glass, G. V., & Smith, M. L. Meta-analysis of research on the relationship of class size and achievement. Boulder: Laboratory of Educational Research, University of Colorado, September 1978.

  • Haertel, G., & Walberg, H. J. Synthesis of research on achievement and social environment of the classroom. Symposium paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, April 1979.

  • Hall, J. A. Gender effects in decoding nonverbal cues.Psychological Bulletin 1978,85 845–857.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, S. S. Meta-analysis of the effects of individually paced instruction in mathematics. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Colorado, 1977.

  • Hearold, S. Meta-analysis of the effects of television on social behavior. Symposium paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, April 1979.

  • Iverson, B. K., & Walberg, H. J. Integrating research findings: The relationship of home environment to school achievement. Symposium paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association, San Francisco, April 1979.

  • Keller, F. S. “Good-bye, teacher ...”Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 1968,1 79–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozak, M. R. A critical analysis of individualized instruction since 1944. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Texas A & M University, 1974.

  • Kulik, J. A., & Jaksa, P. PSI and other educational technologies in college teaching.Educational Technology 1977,17 12–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulik, J. A., Kulik, C.-L. C., & Cohen, P. A. A meta-analysis of outcome studies of Keller's Personalized System of Instruction.American Psychologist 1979a,34 307–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulik, J. A., Kulik, C.-L. C., & Cohen, P. A. Effectiveness of computer-based college teaching. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, The University of Michigan, October 1979b.

  • Luiten, J., Ames, W., & Ackerson, G. The advance organizer: A review of research using Glass' technique of meta-analysis. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, April 1979.

  • Miller, T. I. The effects of drug therapy on psychological disorders. Symposium paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, April 1979.

  • Mintzes, J. J. The A-T approach 14 years later: A review of recent research.Journal of College Science Teaching, March 1975, 247–252.

  • Peterson, P. L. Direct instruction reconsidered. In P. L. Peterson & H. J. Walberg (Eds.),Research on teaching. Berkeley, Calif.: McCutchan Publishing Corp., 1979, pp. 57–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Postlethwait, S. N., Novak, J., & Murray H. T., Jr.The audio-tutorial approach to learning. Minneapolis: Burgess Publishing Co., 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, R.Experimenter effects in behavioral research. New York: Irvington, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. L., & Glass, G. V. Meta-analysis of psychotherapy outcome studies.American Psychologist 1977,32 752–760.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uguroglu, M., & Walberg, H. J. Research synthesis: Motivation and school achievement. Symposium paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, April 1979.

  • White, K. R. The relationship between socioeconomic status and academic achievement. Symposium paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, April 1979.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kulik, J.A., Kulik, CL.C. & Cohen, P.A. Research on audio-tutorial instruction: A meta-analysis of comparative studies. Res High Educ 11, 321–341 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00975623

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00975623

Key words

Navigation