User Preference for Instructional Formats: An Evaluation of Performance

Abstract

Three studies were performed to determine the effect of different formats on user preferences and performance. In Studies 1 and 2, operators were presented instructional formats which differed on the following variables: 1) the use of graphic illustrations, 2) the amount and use of color, 3) the type of blocking used to separate the information on each page. The results of both studies indicated that operator preferences were significantly affected by the use of graphics, random blocking, and amount of color. Study 3 examined the impact of preferred and non-preferred formats on operator performance and their preferences after using a given format. The results showed that there were no significant performance differences between the formats. The preference data, however, demonstrated that formats containing color, random blocking, and graphics were still the most preferred variables.