Effect of a Socratic Animated Agent on Student Performance in a Computer-Simulated Disassembly Process
Roberto Perez, Howard M. Solomon · 2005
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a Socratic animated agent on user performance in a computerbased CD player disassembly simulation. Vocational Education students were randomly assigned to one of two versions of the simulation. One version offered text-based feedback in the form of statements; the other one featured an animated agent providing hints and clues. Results showed that performance (measured by number of wrong tool choices) did not signifi cantly differ between groups. Similarly, both groups stopped making wrong tool choices at approximately the same point in the disassembly process. The short exposure to the treatment may account for these results. Suggested modifi cations that could be incorporated in future studies are proposed in light of this factor. Computer-based instruction (CBI) has signifi cantly evolved in recent