RETENTION OF INFORMATION IN DRIVER EDUCATION FILMS

A TEST WAS MADE OF THE HYPOTHESIS THAT AROUSAL INCREMENT DURING PRESENTATION OF TRAFFIC SAFETY FILM INFORMATION IS RELATED NEGATIVELY TO FORGETTING AND POSITIVELY TO REMINISCENCE. A TRAFFIC SAFETY FILM WAS SHOWN TO 83 DRIVER EDUCATION STUDENTS. AROUSAL WAS MEASURED BY SKIN CONDUCTANCE RECORDED THROUGHOUT THE FILM. RETENTION WAS MEASURED BY A 15-ITEM QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED IMMEDIATELY AFTER (SHORT-TERM) THE FILM, AS WELL AS ONE WEEK LATER (LONG-TERM). A LOW AROUSAL INCREMENT (INCREASE IN CONDUCTANCE) DURING THE 30 SECONDS FOLLOWING INFORMATION PRESENTATION LED TO GOOD SHORT-TERM, BUT POOR LONG-TERM RETENTION; A HIGH AROUSAL INCREMENT LED TO POOR SHORT-TERM, BUT GOOD LONG-TERM, RETENTION. UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT LONG-TERM RETENTION OF TRAFFIC SAFETY INFORMATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SHORT-TERM, THE RESULTS IMPLY THAT SUCH FILMS SHOULD EFFECT A CYCLIC VARIATION IN AROUSAL LEVEL, WITH CRITICAL INFORMATION PRESENTED DURING THE AROUSAL-INCREASING PHASE. /SRIS/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • pp 17-18, 8 REF
• Authors:
  • Levonian, E
• Publication Date: 1968-3

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Calif J of Traffic Safety Educ

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Driver training; Drivers; Film; Human characteristics; Information management; Information, data, and knowledge; Retaining walls; Time; Traffic safety education
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver characteristics
• Old TRIS Terms: Interest; Retaining
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00220801
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Nat Safety Council Safety Res Info Serv
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 15 1970 12:00AM