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Teaching American Gov’t: PSI vs Modular Instruction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2020

Robert E. Botsch*
Affiliation:
University of South Carolina at Aiken

Extract

A large body of research has focused on the benefits of personalized systems of instruction (PSI) relative to the traditional lecture format. Most of this research indicates that PSI is superior to the lecture format. Most of this research indicates that PSI is superior to the lecture format. However, there is little research comparing PSI to other modern teaching techniques. The purpose of this article is to evaluate PSI relative to grouppaced modular instruction in the teaching of American National Government.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1981

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References

1 Watson, George and McGaw, Dickinson, “Personalizing Instruction in Political Science,” in Earle, Ralph B. Jr. (ed.), PSI and Political Science (Washington, D.C.: APSA, 1975), pp. 46-7.Google Scholar

2 For example, see Caputo, David A., “Lesson Plans for Modules: An Introductory American Government Course,” DEA NEWS for Teachers of Political Science 9 (Spring 1976), pp. 5859Google Scholar.

3 See Political Science, Vol. XI No. 1 (Winter 1978), p. 52.

4 For a complete description of this method, see Robert E. Botsch, , “PSI in American Government,” NEWS for Teachers of Political Science, 23 (Fall 1979), pp. 1, 16.Google Scholar

5 Such a finding would be consistent with those of other studies. See Watson and McGaw, pp. 46–7.

6 Ralph B. Earle, “Teaching Political Science by the Personalized System of Instruction,” in Earle, pp. 54–5.