Relative effectiveness of four combinations of oral and written presentations of job related information to disadvantaged trainees

Abstract

Hypothesized that conditions in which an oral presentation was given before a written presentation of information would be more effective than if a written presentation preceded an oral one. Ss were 73 trainees in a program for the disadvantaged (mean age, 22.3 yrs). 4 different combinations of oral and written messages were administered to each of 4 groups. The criterion of effectiveness was a multiple choice test which measured Ss' knowledge of the information in the message. 8 a priori comparisons based on the hypothesis were in the expected direction, but only 3 were significant (p < .05). Results suggest that the best way to distribute relatively easy, job-related information to disadvantaged trainees is an oral presentation and that supervisors should be aware of the limitations of written communications. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)