Westendorp, P. (1996). Learning efficiency with text, pictures, and animation in on-line help. Journal Technical Writing and Communication, 26(4), 401-417.

Westendorp, P.

1996

Westendorp, P. (1996). Learning efficiency with text, pictures, and animation in on-line help. Journal Technical Writing and Communication, 26(4), 401-417.

To test the relative efficiency and learning of text, pictures, and animation in on-line help systems, six versions of an on-line help system for telephones were designed. The operational information was presented in either text, pictures, or animation and presented either with or without spatial information (in pictures). Subjects were asked to perform thirteen tasks, using these six versions of the instructions, one week later. The results show that only presenting the operational information via text is the most efficient. Subjects using instructions in animation needed significantly more time than those using the text or picture versions. Adding spatial information (in pictures) was counterproductive: without this information subjects performed better in all versions. Performing the same tasks with identical instructions one week later produced the same results, but the differences were much smaller. Therefore, it has been concluded that text remains the most efficient medium as long as users have to apply the instructions immediately. If the time needed to read/see the instructions is deducted, animation turns out to be the most efficient medium. It is therefore concluded that animation could be the best medium for learning how to operate a device.

In general, text appears to be the most efficient medium for presenting operational information in instructions as long as users need the instructions while animation appears to be the most efficient if the instructions have to be memorized, that is, if they do not have to be used anymore.

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