THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TEACHING OF SHAKESPEAREAN DRAMA USING MEDIA AND STUDENT RETENTION AND APPRECIATION (HAMLET)

Abstract

The study described in this dissertation was conducted during a three week period and encompassed four senior high school English classes. The data derived from the study were elicited from a pre test of knowledge and a pre treatment attitude survey; a post test of knowledge and a post treatment attitude survey and a delayed post test of knowledge. The four groups of students were given the following treatments within the Shakespearean drama unit on Hamlet: (1) Group I - Students in this group were shown four teaching films on Hamlet and read the play aloud in class with students taking parts. (2) Group 2 - Students listened to a taped recording of the play and followed along with their books. (3) Group 3 - Students in this group listened to the taped recording of the play and were shown the four teaching films. (4) Group 4 - Students in this group, which was the control group, read the play aloud in class with students taking parts. The research questions which guided the research and were addressed through the statistical analysis were as follows: (1) What significant knowledge differences, if any, exist between and among the groups receiving the non-print media treatments and that group which did not? (2) Is there a difference in appreciation (attitudes) of Shakespearean drama between the groups which received the non-print media treatments and the group which did not? The statistical analysis of the data revealed that although all groups improved on the knowledge post test, groups 1 and 2 improved the most. Attitude scores also increased for group 1. Interestingly, the difference between pre treatment and post treatment attitude scores for group 2 was negligible, and for groups 3 and 4 decreased. The following conclusions were then drawn from the statistical analysis: (1) The use of non-print media does improve knowledge of and attitude about Shakespearean drama. (2) The use of non-print media should be limited, for example, to either taped recording or film for optimum results.