USE OF EXPLORATORY RESEARCH AND INDIVIDUAL TUTORING TECHNIQUES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMMING METHODS AND THEORY.

Abstract : This research has demonstrated that the exploratory tutorial approach to program evaluation and revision provides a powerful technique for developing effective programmed materials and for generating hypotheses about important program variables. Three generalizations, or principles, were induced from the observations made during the tutorial sessions in the four subject areas. The principles are: (1) every skill included in the program objectives, and every subskill that logically contributes to those objectives, should be explicitly covered by the program unless it exists in the student's entry repertoire; (2) any materials that do not contribute to the program objectives, as indicated by logical analysis, should be eliminated; and (3) the student should be required to demonstrate mastery of each component subskill before he is allowed to advance to new topics that are based on the earlier materials. The three principles of program improvement, filling gaps, eliminating irrelevancies, and requiring mastery, although intuitively obvious, bear the added strength of having been induced empirically from independent observations. Two of these principles received experimental verification with another progrram and a new sample of students. (Author)