The Effects of Search Tool Type and Cognitive Style on Performance during Hypermedia Database Searches

• Published in: Educational technology research and development Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 5 - 15
• Main Authors: Leader, Lars F., Klein, James D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Association for Educational Communications and Technology 01.01.1996; Springer
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Analysis of Variance; Automatic teaching; Cognitive Style; Educational sciences; English (Second Language); English as a second language; English language learners; Higher Education; Hypermedia; Information search; Learning styles; Multimedia materials; Online Searching; Pretests Posttests; Scores; Search Strategies; Second language learning; Student Attitudes; Teaching aids; Survey; Cognitive Style; Computer Science; Data Bank; Student; Performance; Information Seeking Behaviour
• ISSN: 1042-1629; 1556-6501
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02300537

This study investigated the effects of search tools and learner cognitive styles on performance in searches for information within a hypermedia database. Seventy-five students in a university English as a Second Language (ESL) program were blocked for field dependence and assigned to one of four treatments: browser, index/find, map, and all tools. Subjects searched the hypermedia database, EarthQuest, for facts to answer practice and posttest questions on science topics. Results revealed a significant interaction between search tool and cognitive style. Field-independent learners performed significantly better than field-dependent learners under the index/find and map treatments. Subjects in the four treatment groups accessed information from the database differently. Furthermore, cognitive style was significantly related to achievement, tool use, and attitude. Implications for the design and instructional use of hypermedia databases are provided.