41.1 INTRODUCTION
The field of instructional technology has traditionally involved
a unique blend of theory and practice. This blend is most obvious
in developmental research, those studies that involve the
production of knowledge with the ultimate aim of improving
the processes of instructional design, development, and evaluation.
Such research is based on either situation-specific problem
solving or generalized inquiry procedures. Developmental
research, as opposed to simple instructional development, has
been defined as “the systematic study of designing, developing
and evaluating instructional programs, processes and products
that must meet the criteria of internal consistency and effectiveness”