Does the Issue Matter? The Effect of Personalized Language in Different Thematic Stimuli

• In Event: 61.070 - Instructional Design and Multimedia Principles in Instructional Technology

Abstract

The personalization principle assumes that multimedia instructions using personalized language (e.g., possessive pronouns or directly addressing learners) promote learning better than those using formal language. The effectiveness of this design recommendation has been examined primarily with scientific issues (e.g., botany). There are only few studies that have used a non-neutral (e.g. emotionally loading) topic for testing the personalization principle. Hence, this study (N=265) compared two issues (child labor, statistical analysis) of a computer-based program in a personalized and formal version (2x2-design). Contrary to expectation, there were no interaction effect between the factors personalized language and thematic stimuli. Results, theoretical and practical implications will be discussed at the conference.

Authors

• Maria Reichelt, University of Erfurt

• Helmut M. Niegemann, Saarland University

• Frauke Kämmerer, Bauhaus-University - Weimar

• Steffi Zander, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar