Prior research failed to find clear evidence that animated graphics improve comprehension over static graphics¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r? · q2
Currency · newest study 2010 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? The literature up to the study's date had not confirmed the intuitive expectation that animated graphics improve comprehension relative to static graphics, including in computer-supported collaborative learning settings. → Rebetez 2010

Evidence¶

Rebetez 2010¶

Rebetez, C., Betrancourt, M., Sangin, M., & Dillenbourg, P. (2010). Learning from animation enabled by collaboration. Instructional Science, 38(5), 471–485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-009-9117-6

q2 · i? · causal · r?

This is the article's introductory characterisation of the prior animation literature, not a new empirical result of the present experiment; the review is narrative and no effect sizes are reported for this assertion. In CSCL settings too, "the empirical studies have not confirmed the benefits that one could intuitively expect from the use of animation".

"As animation directly depicts spatial changes over time, it is legitimate to believe that animated graphics will improve comprehension over static graphics. However, the research failed to find clear evidence in favour of animation."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Animation produces a small overall learning advantage over static graphics in multimedia instruction — reports the opposite
• The animation advantage is larger when animation is coupled with auditory commentary — reports the opposite
• The animation advantage is largest when instruction includes no accompanying text — reports the opposite
• The animation advantage is larger when the animation is system-paced — reports the opposite
• For transfer, only learners studying collaboratively benefited from animated over static graphics — related
• Animation is overall beneficial to retention compared with static graphics in multimedia instruction about dynamic systems — reports the opposite