When Does Multimedia Lead to Illusions of Comprehension?

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 6
  In Poster Session: Motivation and Self-Regulation in Technology-Based Environments

Abstract

Although images are used frequently in science instruction to support learning, previous research suggests that images can sometimes cause illusions of understanding. The current study tested the impact of presenting images with science texts on students’ accuracy in judging their own comprehension. Students read a series of excerpts from a geoscience textbook either with no images, accompanied by images, or a mixture of texts with and without images, and judged their comprehension of each topic. They later took multiple choice tests on each topic. Students’ accuracy in judging their own comprehension was significantly reduced in the condition with a mixture of texts with and without images, suggesting this mixture disrupted comprehension monitoring.

Authors

• Jennifer Wiley, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Tim George, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Thomas D. Griffin, University of Illinois at Chicago