Employing Perceptual-Learning Research in Journalism and Communication

Abstract

Perceptual-learning methods teach concepts and skills using numerous, rapid-fire questions and immediate visual feedback. A quasi-experiment compared a digital perceptual-learning module (PLM) of 200 multiple choice questions on Associated Press style to an introductory journalism/strategic communication course in which students learned AP style. The PLM, which took only 70 min, significantly improved participants’ declarative and procedural knowledge of AP, and PLM participants outperformed classroom/control participants on AP editing accuracy. A delayed posttest seven weeks after initial posttest showed no decrement in AP editing accuracy among PLM participants. This is one of the first experiments testing perceptual-learning methods in journalism or communication.

KEYWORDS:

• Perceptual learning
• journalism
• AP style
• PLM
• strategic communication
• grammar
• copy editing

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors sincerely thank Professors Ibrahim Abusharif, Mary Dedinsky, and Susan Dun, all of Northwestern University in Qatar, for assisting in participant recruitment for this study.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. $d=t\ast \sqrt{(N1+N2)/(N1\ast N2)}$.