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The Effectiveness of Information Mapping Compared with the Conventional Paragraph in Communicating Technical Information
Thesis Abstract:
An experiment was done to compared the effectiveness of Information Mapping (IM) and the conventional paragraph (CP). Effectiveness was a function of the following characteristics; it required the subjects less time to read; it entailed less time for the subjects to finish the test material; it resulted in better performance in the test designed to measure knowledge gain and comprehension; it was preferred and given a better perceptual judgment by more subjects based on projected readability, understandability, and acceptability to others.
The topic "Nitrogen Transformation in Paddy Soils" was prepared and mimeographed in the IM and CP forms using the same wordings. These content materials were randomly administered to the subjects who were students of the UPLB College of Agriculture. Only the post tests of subjects with little of no previous knowledge of the subject matter were included in the analysis.
A highly significant difference in reading time was observed between the two groups in favor of CP. In terms of testing time, a significant difference was observed in favor of IM. The mean knowledge gain score of the IM group was significantly higher than the CP group but the difference was not significant. On the other hand, the mean comprehension score of the IM group was significantly higher than the CP group. IM was more effective in terms of total performance in the post test. The majority of the subjects expose to both treatments preferred IM over CP. The most frequently mentioned reasons were "it is easier to understand," "presentation facilities immediate location of important ideas," and "facts are explained more clearly and simply." In addition, the majority of the subjects in both treatments gave a better perceptual judgment of IM when they projected that it would be more readable, more understandable, and more acceptable to others.
