Research in interactive technologies at the Children's Television Workshop

This article presents a model for integrating research into the software design process, based on the experience of the Interactive Technologies Division of the Children's Television Workshop. The model has three components: (a) using existing research literature to inform initial design decisions and suggest possible issues to be tested during the development of prototype products, (b) conducting in-house basic research studies to provide information unavailable in the published literature, and (c) conducting formative research studies on products in development to assess their usability and to ensure their effectiveness as learning tools. Issues in interpreting published studies are considered, and insights from the results of basic and formative studies conducted by the Interactive Technologies Division are also reviewed.

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