A Comparison of Three Prompting Methods for Training Software Use

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of three strategies for training college students to use a computer spreadsheet program. Twenty-eight subjects were trained with materials that either prompted correct responding throughout training (continuous prompting), progressively delayed the prompt presentation over trials (prompt delay), or progressively added keypress choices to a command menu over trials (addition-of-choices). Subjects who were trained with continuous prompting made twice as many errors on a posttest as subjects.