In this preliminary study, students participated in a structured interview designed to indentify factors students self-report as significant in choice of program. Students at a moderately sized academic medical center were asked to identify their reason for using a program as they began. Students using CAI on a regular basis were invited to participate in a focused interview process to determine which specific usability, design, and interface issues were most important in their choice of a CAI program. Factors to be examined in the structured interview were derived from a literature review, textbooks on CAI and human interface design, and observation of use patterns, and were enhanced with open-ended questions to the students.
In a subsequent study, the results of this study will be compared with actual use in a two-step process. First, the programs used will be reviewed to determine which previously identified factors are associated with each. Second, the programs will be compared to determine if a profile exists for high use programs. If such a profile exists, it could become a screening mechanism for the selection of CAI programs.
Date last modified: September 15, 1997.
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