Media Comparisons: To Do or Not to Do, That is the Question

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Media comparison research (i.e. comparing new instructional technology to more traditional forms of instruction) has been the subject of debate for many decades (e.g., Clark, 1983, 1994; Kozma, 1994). Unfortunately, we are no closer to agreement about whether and how media influence learning and yet, many researchers continue to pursue this line of inquiry. The purpose of this symposium is to move the conversation forward by asking whether we can and should conduct well-designed and meaningful media comparison studies or if media comparison research is unable to give us useful information. Researchers on each side of the debate will present their arguments for or against media comparison studies and will generate discussion on the future of media research.

Sub Unit

• Division C - Learning and Instruction / Division C - Section 3a: Learning Environments

Chairs

• Amédee Marchand Martella, University of Georgia

• Alyssa Lawson, Colby College

Papers

• Old Questions, Bad Answers: Rejecting Media Comparison Research - Noah Glaser, University of Missouri

• Do We Really Care About That? - Joshua Weidlich, Heidelberg University of Education

• Media Comparisons: Necessary but Currently Not Sufficient - Amédee Marchand Martella, University of Georgia; Alyssa Lawson, Colby College

• More Nuanced Media Comparisons: Accounting for Complexity Through Moderators and Mediators - Miriam Mulders, University of Duisburg-Essen

• From Whether to When: Five Conditions for Meaningful Media Comparison Research - Josef Buchner, St. Gallen University of Teacher Education

Session Organizer

• Amédee Marchand Martella, University of Georgia

Discussant

• Jeff A. Greene, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill