Skip to main content
Log in

The Interaction between Gender, Age, and Multimedia Interface Design

  • Published:
Education and Information Technologies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study we assumed that multimedia design contributes to an interest in learning by young children. Thirty kindergarten children were exposed to interactive multimedia stories. With the help of the Pollimeter tool (Lampert, 1981), we examined previous experience with computers, level of covert time-on-task, and level of satisfaction with various interfaces. The findings indicate that different interfaces have a different impact on boys and girls as regards covert time-on-task and level of satisfaction with the interface. Boys who are more familiar with computer games show a greater covert time-on-task than girls, as also a higher level of satisfaction. Younger boys and girls were found to show higher satisfaction than older children.

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

  • Comber, C., Colley, A., Hargreaves, D. J. and Dorn, L. (1997) The effects of age, gender and computer experience upon computer attitudes. Educational Research, 39(2), 123–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colley, A., Hill, F., Hill, J. and Jones, A. (1995) Gender effects in the stereotyping of those with different kinds of computing experience. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 12(1), 19–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crook, C. (1991) Computers for preschool children: the role of direct manipulation interfaces. Early Child Development and Care, 69, 5–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, A. D. N. and Holland, S. (1994) Multimedia Interface Design in Education. University of Aberdeen, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gil'ad, J. (1995) Argonomy: Thinking Ahead. Maasee Hoshev (in Hebrew).

  • Hodges, M. E. and Sasnett, R. M. (1993) Multimedia Computing. Addison-Wesley, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, G., Solomon, G. and Afreeza, D. (1987) The Analysis of Behaviour in Instruction, University of Pittsburgh, Learning Research and Development Centre, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampert, S. I. (1979) The attitude pollimeter: A new attitude-scaling device. Journal of Marketing Research, 16, 578–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampert, S. I. (1981) A new scale for consumer research: The pollimeter combines properties for data collection and data analysis. Journal of Advertising Research, 21(2), 23–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, L. (1991) Visually designing the computer-learner interface. Educational Technology, 56–58.

  • Mayes, J. T. (1992) The “M-Word”: Multimedia interfaces and their role in interactive learning systems. In Edwards, A. D. N., Holland, S. (eds), Multimedia Interfaces Design in Education, University of Aberdeen, UK, pp. 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, L., Chaika, M. and Groppe, L. (1996) Girls' preferences in software design: Insights from a focus group. Interpersonal Computing and Technology, 4(2), 27–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, R. and Greber, L. (1990) Women and computers: An introduction. Journal of Woman in Culture and Society, 16(11), 74–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plamondon, K. (1994) Gender differences among early elementary students in computer use and interest. Teaching and Change, 1(3), 284–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preece, J. (1994) Human Computer Interaction. Addison-Wesley, Mass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Severiens, S. and Dam, G. T. (1997) Gender and gender identify differences in learning styles. Educational Psychology, 17(1&2), 79–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shneiderman, B. (1992) Designing The User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human Computer Interaction. Addison-Wesley, Mass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snir, N. (1989) The media and the student, the influence of educational technologies (computer, television, student's notebook) time-on-task. MA thesis, Bar-Ilan University, Israel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, E. (1994) Making Computer People-Literate. Jossy-Bass Publishers, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Passig, D., Levin, H. The Interaction between Gender, Age, and Multimedia Interface Design. Education and Information Technologies 6, 241–250 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012924718226

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012924718226

Navigation