An analysis of computer aided instruction for cognitive-psychomotor development

Abstract

<p>The problem of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cognition and psychomotor development in a computer based arc welding simulation. A prettest-posttest control group design with two treatment groups and one control was used in the investigation. Forty-five Iowa State University students were selected as subjects and placed into the groups. Data collected from all participants were as follows: (1) demographic information; (2) eye-hand coordination; (3) cognitive pretest and posttest scores. The two treatment groups also provided weld quality scores. Initial training and pretesting was given to all groups in the study. The first treatment group used a microcomputer based arc welder simulation to develop welding motor skills. The second treatment group used an actual arc welder for the skill development. After a demonstration and a period of practice, the two treatment groups were instructed to complete a weld on steel plates. The welds were subsequently judged and scores recorded. Following the welding activity, all three groups received the posttest;The data collected in the study were analyzed and the findings are as follows: (1) A partial correlation showed a relationship between cognitive test performance and psychomotor skill development; (2) an analysis of variance procedure showed no difference between the welding performances of the two treatment groups while, in the weld score multiple regression equation, only posttest score and sex were shown to be valuable predictors of weld score; (3) an analysis of variance showed no difference between means of cognitive test scores of the treatment groups.</p>