The influence of anthropomorphism and emotional valence in decorative pictures on learning with media

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Günter Daniel Rey
• Subject Area: Developmental and Educational Psychology
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 418843124

Experimentally confirmed design principles for multimedia learning environments are primarily based on the Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) and the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML). These theories emphasize the limitation of the working memory and a potential cognitive overload of learners, which should be prevented by an appropriate design of instructional media. For example, it is postulated to avoid decorative pictures in learning materials. The intended use of decorative pictures is to provide an aesthetic appeal rather than presenting learning-relevant information. Recent empirical studies have shown that decorative pictures improve rather than reduce learning performance under certain conditions. In the proposed project, the level of anthropomorphism and emotional valence of decorative pictures are considered as central factors of influence. Anthropomorphism is defined as the mental transfer of human characteristics, motivations, intentions, and emotions to nonhuman beings or artifacts. In contrast, valence refers to the content or the value of a presented emotion. Prior research results concerning these two variables indicate that anthropomorphism and emotional valence are closely intertwined. However, these two variables have not been systematically investigated in regard to potential interaction effects and their use in decorative pictures. It can be postulated that a higher degree of anthropomorphism in decorative pictures as well as decorative pictures inducing a positive valence lead to higher states of intrinsic motivation and thereby improving learning. In a series of experiments (N = 160 per experiment) consisting of two laboratory and two field experiments, a 2x2 factorial between-subject design with the factors emotional valence (neutral vs. positive) and the degree of anthropomorphism (low vs. high) of decorative pictures and an additional control group without decorative pictures will be used to analyze these postulations. In a first step, a preliminary study with 80 participants is planned to test the instructional materials and the learning questions as well as the required test duration. Subsequently, the first and the third experiment will be conducted with university students under laboratory conditions including physiological measurements, while the second and the fourth experiment take place in school computer rooms. Cognitive load, motivation, emotion as well as retention and transfer learning scores will be measured. The learning materials of the first and the second experiment deal with the fundamentals of proteins as important components of life, whereas the third and the fourth experiment will cover the characteristics and definitions of life. The results of these experiments should provide important insides into the effects of designing learning materials with decorative pictures.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Sascha Schneider