Signaling principle: highlighting essential words improves transfer from multimedia lessons¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r2 · q3 · i2 medium
Currency · newest study 2008 · checked against its sources 2026-10-14 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i2 In 6 of 6 experiments, learners who received signaled lessons performed better on transfer tests than students who received nonsignaled lessons, median d = 0.52. → Richard E. Mayer 2008

Evidence¶

Richard E. Mayer 2008¶

Richard E. Mayer. (2008). Applying the Science of Learning: Evidence-Based Principles for the Design of Multimedia Instruction. American Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.63.8.760

q3 · i2 · review · r2

Controlled experiments comparing signaled versus nonsignaled lessons (overview sentences, headings, vocal emphasis) on airplanes, lightning, and biology; the article reports the quoted 6-of-6 result and that "The median effect size was 0.52, which is considered a medium effect."

"In 6 out of 6 experiments, involving both computer-based lessons on airplanes and paper-based lessons on lightning and biology, learners who received signaled lessons performed better on transfer tests than students who received nonsignaled lessons"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Signaling Improves Learning — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it

• Relevancy of emphasized text directs attention and influences test performance — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it

- Clear Structure Improves Learning — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it¶

• A narrative review reports that the signaling studies it cites found higher learning outcomes with signaled multimedia (illustrations with labeled text) than without — a broader claim this one bears on