Mayer, R.E., Hegarty, M., Mayer, S., & Campbell, J. (2005). When static media promote active learning: annotated illustrations versus narrated animations in multimedia instruction. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied 11(4), 256–265.

Mayer, R.; Hegarty, M.; Mayer, S.; Campbell, J.

2005

Mayer, R.E., Hegarty, M., Mayer, S., & Campbell, J. (2005). When static media promote active learning: annotated illustrations versus narrated animations in multimedia instruction. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied 11(4), 256–265.

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In 4 experiments, students received a lesson consisting of computer-based animation and narration or a lesson consisting of paper-based static diagrams and text. The lessons used the same words and graphics in the paper-based and computer-based versions to explain the process of lightning formation (Experiment 1), how a toilet tank works (Experiment 2), how ocean waves work (Experiment 3), and how a car’s braking system works (Experiment 4). On subsequent retention and transfer tests, the paper group performed significantly better than the computer group on 4 of 8 comparisons, and there was no significant difference on the rest. These results support the static media hypothesis, in which static illustrations with printed text reduce extraneous processing and promote germane processing as compared with narrated animations.

In the studies we conducted, students who learned from computer-based narrated animation did not score significantly better on posttests than did students who learned from paper-based illustrations and printed text . In eight comparisons, across four different studies, the computer group never scored higher than the paper group. Does a computer-based narrated animation result in less learning compared with paper-based static illustrations and printed words? In four of eight comparisons, across four different studies, the paper group scored significantly higher than the computer group. In the remaining four comparisons, the difference failed to reach statistical significance

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