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12 - Principles for Reducing Extraneous Processing in Multimedia Learning : Coherence, Signaling, Redundancy, Spatial Contiguity, and Temporal Contiguity Principles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Richard E. Mayer
Affiliation:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Richard Mayer
Affiliation:
University of California, Santa Barbara
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Summary

Abstract

Extraneous overload occurs when essential cognitive processing (required to understand the essential material in a multimedia message) and extraneous cognitive processing (required to process extraneous material or to overcome confusing layout in a multimedia message) exceeds the learner's cognitive capacity. Five multimedia design methods intended to minimize extraneous overload are the coherence, signaling, redundancy, spatial contiguity, and temporal contiguity principles. The coherence principle is that people learn more deeply from a multimedia message when extraneous material is excluded rather than included. This principle was supported in 10 out of 11 experimental tests, yielding a median effect size of 1.32. The signaling principle is that people learn more deeply from a multimedia message when cues are added that highlight the organization of the essential material. This principle was supported in three out of three experimental tests, yielding a median effect size of 0.60. The redundancy principle is that people learn more deeply from graphics and narration than from graphics, narration, and on-screen text. This principle was supported in 10 out of 10 experimental tests, yielding a median effect size of 0.69. The spatial contiguity principle is that people learn more deeply from a multimedia message when corresponding words and pictures are presented near rather than far from each other on the page or screen. This principle was supported in eight out of eight experimental tests, yielding a median effect size of 1.11. The temporal contiguity principle is that people learn more deeply from a multimedia message when corresponding animation and narration are presented simultaneously rather than successively.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2005

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