| Complex, hierarchical, multimedia computer systems are now being used in business and education. Information is often provided in non-linear formats. Problems learning to use and navigate these systems are challenging instructional designers and software developers to provide software that novices can learn to use quickly and easily. This study used an instructional program written in HyperCard to research the effects of map and animated graphic cues. The purpose of this study was to answer four questions comparing the effectiveness of three levels of graphic cuing (1) animation, (2) graphical map and (3) combination animation and map on learning and navigating in a complex hierarchical computer system. In addition to the typical dependent measure of learning, posttest scores, four other dependent variables (DV's) indicated by operant conditioning literature as important in the match-to-sample paradigm were also measured. These DV's included cue rate, completion time, number of modules completed and latency rate. Two research questions focused on determining the amount of variance in the dependent measures caused by individual differences in visual perceptual style.;The study addressed four major research questions. The first question measured the variance in each of the dependent variables across the three cuing treatments; graphic map, animation and map plus animation. The cuing type had a significant educational effect on results. The combination map plus animation condition (M + AN) proved to be the most powerful. The results for M + AN condition showed educationally significant effect sizes on all dependent measures except latency rate when compared to the animation condition (AN). Comparing results for M and AN cues used singly, only two measures, cue rate and number of modules completed, reached educationally significant effect sizes in favor of the map condition.;Subjects used the map far more frequently than the animated cue probably because of the length and complexity of the latter. The combination of both cues was the most effective. |
