Extraneous cognitive load did not mediate the detrimental effect of seductive details in this online study¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causalr2·q3
Currency · newest study 2023 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i? No significant mediation of learning outcomes via extraneous cognitive load was found for recall or transfer. → Kienitz 2023
Evidence¶
Kienitz 2023¶
Kienitz, A., Krebs, M.-C., & Eitel, A. (2023). Seductive details hamper learning even when they do not disrupt. Instructional Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-023-09632-w
q3 · i? · causal · r2
Mediation analysis testing the cognitive load hypothesis found the no-prompt vs. control/irrelevance contrast raised ECL (recall: b = 0.12, p = .010; transfer: b = 0.11, p = .031), but ECL did not significantly influence recall (b = -0.17, p = .105) or transfer (b = -0.13, p = .577).
"Our analyses showed no significant mediation via ECL for recall (b = -0.02, 95%BootCI [-0.56–0.001]) and transfer (b = 0.11, 95%BootCI [-0.08–0.04])."
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- An irrelevance prompt eliminates the recall cost of seductive details, supporting the diversion explanation
- Seductive detail amount did not increase extraneous cognitive load in either study — related
- Anger does not mediate the effect of concessive refutation statements on conceptual change or transfer — related
- Seductive detail amount did not significantly affect transfer performance in Study 1 — related
- Interesting but irrelevant details can impair comprehension and transfer, with effects that vary with the material and the learner — a broader claim this one bears on
- Coherence Principle Irrelevant Material Hurts Learning — a broader claim this one bears on
- A separation prompt does not improve learning with seductive details, and higher integration avoidance predicts worse transfer, disfavouring the disruption explanation — related
- Seductive detail amount did not increase learners' intrinsic motivation in either study — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
ecl-mediation-not-replicated-online |
title |
Extraneous cognitive load did not mediate the detrimental effect of seductive details in this online study |
description |
Extraneous cognitive load did not mediate the detrimental effect of seductive details in this online study |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
weak |
newest_evidence |
2023 |
source_checked |
2026-10-20 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-16 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — kienitz-2023 |
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