Lagerwerf, L., Cornelis, L., de Geus, J., & Jansen, P. (2008). Advance organizers in advisory reports: Selective reading, recall, and perception. Written Communication, 25(1), 53-75.

Lagerwerf, L.;Cornelis, L.;de Geus, J.;Jansen, P.

2008

Lagerwerf, L., Cornelis, L., de Geus, J., & Jansen, P. (2008). Advance organizers in advisory reports: Selective reading, recall, and perception. Written Communication, 25(1), 53-75.

geen

According to research in educational psychology, advance organizers lead to better learning and recall of information. In this research, the authors explored advance organizers from a business perspective, where larger documents are read under time pressure. Graphic and verbal advance organizers were manipulated into six versions of an advisory report, read by 159 experienced professional readers in a between-subjects design. Their reading time was limited to encourage selective reading. The results show that graphic advance organizers facilitate selective reading, but they do not enhance recall. Verbal advance organizers introducing a problem enhance recall, and graphic advance organizers moderate the effects on both selective reading and recall.

There was a main effect of graphic organizers; fewer respondents reported reading chapters in reports with graphic advance organizers. Free recall and recognition was not affected in any way by advance organizers. Results show that graphic advance organizers facilitate selective reading, but they do not enhance recall. Verbal advance organizers introducing a problem enhance recall, and graphic advance organizers moderate the effects on both the selective reading and recall.

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