This study was intended to ascertain the effectiveness of videotape recordings on the achievement of ninth grade students in citizenship classes versus achievement of students where that medium was not used. Subjects for the quasi-experimental study were 183 ninth grade students in selected high school citizenship classes in a large suburban district; there was also a nonrandomized control group. A pretest-posttest design was used to determine achievement. Two variables were tested for possible relationships to the scores, and t tests were used to test the relationships. No statistically significant relationships were shown between the achievement scores of the experimental subjects, who saw videotape recordings as opposed to the control group, who did not see the videotapes. There was also no statistically significant relationship between gender and the treatment and control groups. It is concluded that, although the results of the study were not statistically significant, it is important for educators to be cognizant of research on media in terms of meeting educational objectives and supporting the curriculum. Such research will help instructional leaders use their instructional resources in the most efficient manner. Copies of a teacher log sheet, the pretest, and the posttest are appended. (40 references) (DB)