Level of detail in written instructions
Gary Steven Diffley · CSUN ScholarWorks (California State University, Northridge) · 1975
task of calculating the Pearson !:. on a desk calculator.Subjects were also differently familiarized with the electronic desk calculator and were given varying amounts of information as to the meaning of correlation.A greater number of correct responses were obtained.from the • more familiarized subjects and from all subjects on the second trial.No significant differences were found in performance due to level of detail in the instructions.Subjects with the briefest and m1ddle instructions did, however, indicate a preference for more information.It was concluded that, given a fixed body of information to be presented to people of vridely varying •abilities, altering the :number of statements used to present that information vlill not significantly affect performance, provided a consistent format is used.Further, inadequate det:a.il is suggested as an i.nsufficient descriptor of the cause of errors in following wxitten instructions.