Does Prior Knowledge Moderate the Seductive Details Effect?

• In Event: 29.083 - Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: 29.083-4 - Poster Session 3: Cognitive Processes

Abstract

Previous research on seductive details has demonstrated that interesting but irrelevant messages hinder learning. However, little is known about the role of prior knowledge in moderating the seductive details effect. The present study used a 2 (prior knowledge: high or low) x 3 (seductive details: not presented, presented first, and presented last) design to address this gap. Results showed that, low-prior-knowledge participants reading only base passage (the not presented condition) outperformed those reading seductive details passage (regardless of the placement) on both recall and problem-solving performance. High-prior-knowledge participants reading the base passage and those reading seductive details at the end outperformed those reading seductive details first on problem-solving performance.

Authors

• Zhe Wang, Washington State University - Pullman

• Olusola Olalekan Adesope, Washington State University