Video vs. text: Assessing the effectiveness of a video tutorial on the procedural- and factual knowledge of production workers and its potential benefits over a tutorial with text and still graphics.

The aim of this study was to add clarity on the topic of the effectiveness of video as a learning tool and for training employees. Specifically, if video is more effective than PDF, for production workers in becoming acquainted with an online system within a manufacturing company. A group of 190 production workers were part of a quasi-experimental design in which they followed a pre-test, intervention and post-test process. One hundred participants were trained on an online program via a video-tutorial and ninety participants were trained on the same topic through a PDF-tutorial containing the same theory. Results revealed that video is an effective learning tool for the participants to significantly improve themselves in factual- and procedural knowledge about interpreting and using an online system. However, multiple data analysis failed to provide evidence benefitting video as a learning tool over PDF. Furthermore, the data revealed no significant difference between groups on the mean post-test results, procedural knowledge, factual knowledge and retention rate. There was a significant difference found on the training-time between groups in favor of the PDF condition. Meaning that the PDF –group needed significantly less time to follow the training and finish the test than the video-group, producing similar results.