Corston, R., & Colman, A. M. (1997). Modality of communication and recall of health-related information. Journal of Health Psychology, 2(2), 185-193.

Corston, R.; Colman, A.

1997

Corston, R., & Colman, A. M. (1997). Modality of communication and recall of health-related information. Journal of Health Psychology, 2(2), 185-193.

geen

A health warning was presented to 89 female and 19 male students aged 17-36 years via three modalities or channels of communication: a 'talking head' (video), an audiotape recording (audio) or a printed transcript (print). The verbal content of the message was identical in all three conditions. Participants' free recall, cued recall (recognition) and global recall of the message were then measured. On two separate dependent measures and a combined measure, recall was significantly (p < .005) better in both the audio and print conditions than in the video condition. No significant differences in recall were found between the audio and print conditions. These results, and those of earlier studies of modality effects on recall of information, are discussed in terms of self-pacing and distraction theories.

Modality of communication had a significant effect on free recall, cued recall and global recall of the health warning. Video yielded relatively low recall scores, and audio and print both yielded significantly higher recall scores.

108

2