In an immersive VR learning environment, visual-only text yields higher recall than audio-visual text (reverse modality effect)¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causalr2·q3·i3large
Currency · newest study 2023 · checked against its sources 2026-10-19 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
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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 i3 Participants learning in VR with visual-only text scored significantly higher on recall than those with audio-visual text. → Patrick Albus 2023
Evidence¶
Patrick Albus 2023¶
Patrick Albus, Tina Seufert. (2023). The modality effect reverses in a virtual reality learning environment and influences cognitive load. Instructional Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-022-09611-7
q3 · i3 · causal · r2
ANCOVA in a between-subjects experiment (N = 61) comparing visual-only (n = 31) and audio-visual (n = 30) text modality in an immersive VR unit on HIV, controlling for motivation. The "visual-only condition scored significantly higher" on recall, ηp² = 0.14.
"the visual-only condition scored significantly higher than the audio-visual condition on recall (H1: F(1,58) = 9.60, p = .002, ηp2 = 0.14)"
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- No difference in extraneous cognitive load between modality conditions in VR, contrary to the modality principle — related
- No difference in intrinsic cognitive load between visual-only and audio-visual text conditions in VR — related
- Bayesian analyses provide strong evidence that the modality effect reverses in VR for recall, comprehension and germane load — a broader claim this one bears on
- Visual-only text also yields higher comprehension than audio-visual text in immersive VR — related
- Visual-only text yields higher transfer than audio-visual text in immersive VR — related
- Visual-only text produces higher germane cognitive load than audio-visual text in VR — related
- Presenting words as spoken narration rather than on-screen text alongside graphics improves learning — reports the opposite
- In one meta-analysis, modality-effect studies using virtual reality head-mounted displays show larger effects than studies using computer screens or audio-tapes — reports the opposite
- Immersion principle: people do not necessarily learn better in 3D immersive virtual reality than with a corresponding 2D desktop presentation (d = -0.10 across 9 tests) — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
vr-reverse-modality-effect-recall |
title |
In an immersive VR learning environment, visual-only text yields higher recall than audio-visual text (reverse modality effect) |
description |
In an immersive VR learning environment, visual-only text yields higher recall than audio-visual text (reverse modality effect) |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2023 |
source_checked |
2026-10-19 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-18 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — patrick-albus-2023 |
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