Skip to main content

Can Text Content Influence the Effectiveness of Diagrams?

  • Conference paper
  • 1413 Accesses

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 6170))

Abstract

Verbal instructional explanations are often accompanied by diagrams to enhance learning. Recent working memory research suggests that a high degree of spatial information conveyed through the verbal explanations may impair the instructional effectiveness of the diagrams. It is explained by interference between the processing of the diagrams, the processing of text containing spatial information and the execution of eye movements, associated with diagram inspection. In the current paper two experiments are summarized which showed the expected performance impairment when presenting diagrams together with text containing spatial information. Implications of these results for the presentations of diagrams are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Mayer, R.E.: Multimedia Learning. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2009)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Baddeley, A.D.: Working Memory. Science 225, 556–559 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Logie, R.H.: Visuo-spatial Working Memory. Lawrence Erlbaum, Aberdeen (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  4. De Beni, R., Pazzaglia, F., Gyselinck, V., Meneghetti, C.: Visuospatial Working Memory and Mental Representation of Spatial Description. Eur. J. Cogn. Psychol. 17, 77–95 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Deyzack, E., Logie, R.H., Denis, M.: Visuospatial Working Memory and the Processing of Spatial Description. Brit. J. Psychol. 97, 217–243 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Postle, B.R., Idzikowski, Z., Della Sala, S., Logie, R.H., Baddeley, A.: The Selective Disruption of Spatial Working Memory by Eye Movements. Q. J. Exp. Psychol. 59, 100–120 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Larkin, J.H., Simon, H.A.: Why a diagram is (sometimes) worth ten thousand words. Cog. Scien. 11, 65–99 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Schüler, A., Scheiter, K., Gerjets, P. (2010). Can Text Content Influence the Effectiveness of Diagrams?. In: Goel, A.K., Jamnik, M., Narayanan, N.H. (eds) Diagrammatic Representation and Inference. Diagrams 2010. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 6170. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14600-8_42

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14600-8_42

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-14599-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-14600-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics