Expository Texts Comprehension in Multimedia Presentations: Cognitive Overload Effects as a Result of Including Graphics during Reading
Saux, Gastón1
Burin, Débora2
Irrazabal, Natalia3
1 Dr. en Psicología (
E-Mail gsaux@psi.uba.ar
2Dra. en Psicología (Universidad de Salamanca). Investigadora CONICET,
3Dra. en Psicología (
Resumen:
La
Palabras Clave: Texto expositivo - Comprensión - Multimedia - Sobrecarga cognitiva
Abstract:
EXPOSITORY TEXTS COMPREHENSION IN MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATIONS: COGNITIVE OVERLOAD EFFECTS AS A RESULT OF INCLUDING GRAPHICS DURING READING
Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML, Mayer, 2001) argues that design features in multimedia presentations can selectively overload different aspects of cognitive processing, particularly in cognitive highly demanding tasks. This study aimed to: (a) compare the comprehension of expository texts presenting unfamiliar information in multimedia presentations associated or not with cognitive overload; and (b) compare the effect of different overload scenarios on short term representational holding and integration of information. Participants read expository texts with conceptual graphics. Graphics were presented either without extrinsic overload (Non-overload condition), or in two presentation formats associated with specific overloads on integration and representational holding of information (Incoherent Graphic and Non-synchronized Graphic conditions, respectively). Reading times for target sentences included in each text and answers to offline questions were collected. Data analysis showed a significant difference between conditions with and without overload on reading times, but not on the answer to questions. No differences were found for reading times between the overload conditions. These data are consistent with an overload hypothesis, but inconsistent with TCAM´s idea of specific overloads on cognitive processes.
Keywords: Expository text - Comprehension - Multimedia - Cognitive overload
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Lavalle 2353
Tel/fax:4952 – 5481/ 4952 – 5490
Horario de atención: 10 a 17 hs
E-mail: instinve@psi.uba.ar