The effects of download delay on performance and end-user satisfaction in an Internet tutorial

摘要

The present study investigated the effects of a variable unique to Internet-based learning; download delay of instructional materials. A simulated online teaching tool was created to measure the effects of download delay of images on test performance, time spent on the material, end-user satisfaction, and perceived effectiveness. Overall, download delay of instructional material had mixed effects on all four dependent variables. The results from this study appear to be the first empirical evidence that the effects of download delay are not linear, rather they are moderated by academic experience of the subject and difficulty of the material.