YouTube as a Trustworthy Confidant? A Closer Look at Educational Channels

Although there is research from different disciplines on explanatory videos (e.g. regarding their purpose or quality criteria), these studies usually neglect the platforms where the videos are offered and the people responsible for these channels. In this paper we therefore present an explorative study in which we analyzed YouTube channels that show explanatory videos primarily for German school students and teachers. In a multi-step process, we selected 11 channels for the study and developed an instrument that allowed for a criteria-based, comparative analysis of those channels. Results reveal substantial differences between the examined channels with regard to their performance, monetization, transparency, advertisement, staff, target groups and quality management. The findings as well as the limitations and strengths of the study are discussed. The investigation of a larger number of explanatory video channels in follow-up studies could provide additional insights and increase the generalizability of the findings. https://osf.io/ym7d5/wiki/home/