Informational pictures show contradictory effects on performance and time on task across studies¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · review r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2024 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Effects of informational pictures on performance are heterogeneous: six studies found increases, three no effects, and five found decreased performance compared to text-only. → Schewior 2024 q2 i? Informational pictures are the only category for which performance-reducing effects were reported. → Schewior 2024 (2)

Evidence¶

Schewior 2024¶

Schewior, L., & Lindner, M. A. (2024). Revisiting Picture Functions in Multimedia Testing: A Systematic Narrative Review and Taxonomy Extension. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-024-09883-0

q2 · i? · review · r3

Narrative synthesis of sixteen articles examining informational pictures' effects on performance. Six found increases, three no effects, five decreases, and two reported task type as a key moderator, reflecting "the strong heterogeneity in studies that investigate IPs."

"Six articles found that items with IPs increased the performance compared to text-only"

Schewior 2024 (2)¶

Schewior, L., & Lindner, M. A. (2024). Revisiting Picture Functions in Multimedia Testing: A Systematic Narrative Review and Taxonomy Extension. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-024-09883-0

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review highlights that among the four picture function categories, only informational pictures showed performance-reducing effects, attributed partly to the category's broad definition fostering heterogeneity across studies.

"Remarkably, informational pictures constitute the only category for which significant performance-reducing effects were reported"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Decorative pictures in test items show no meaningful effect on performance, time on task, or metacognition compared to text-only items — related
• Representational pictures tend to increase test performance compared to text-only items — related
• Organizational pictures tend to increase test performance compared to text-only items — related