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Research in interactive technologies at the Children's Television Workshop

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Abstract

This article presents a model for integrating research into the software design process, based on the experience of the Interactive Technologies Division of the Children's Television Workshop. The model has three components: (a) using existing research literature to inform initial design decisions and suggest possible issues to be tested during the development of prototype products, (b) conducting in-house basic research studies to provide information unavailable in the published literature, and (c) conducting formative research studies on products in development to assess their usability and to ensure their effectiveness as learning tools. Issues in interpreting published studies are considered, and insights from the results of basic and formative studies conducted by the Interactive Technologies Division are also reviewed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research for the Interactive Technologies Division of Children's Television Workshop, USA

    Erik F. Strommen (Director)

  2. Research and Development in Interactive Technologies, USA

    Glenda L. Revelle (Vice President for Production)

Authors
  1. Erik F. Strommen
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  2. Glenda L. Revelle
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Additional information

He attended Cornell and received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in developmental psychology and research design in 1988.

She holds a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Michigan and has been researching and producing software at CTW for seven years.

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Strommen, E.F., Revelle, G.L. Research in interactive technologies at the Children's Television Workshop. ETR&D 38, 65–80 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02314646

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