Four-function taxonomy of pictures in multimedia testing (decorative, representational, organizational, informational)¶
Research Method · All research methods
Evidence · 4 claims (4 for) · 1 study (1 review),q2· 0 of 1 report an effect size · 4 claims rest on one study
Description¶
The review organizes pictures in test items by their functional relationship to the accompanying text, adapting Levin's MML classification. Decorative pictures "can be loosely associated with the item context but do not display task or solution relevant information"; representational pictures represent part or all of task-relevant text content; organizational pictures support the solution procedure by providing visuospatial structure; and informational pictures "depict information that is essential for the solution of the problem." The review uses this taxonomy to classify 62 studies and proposes simplification and extension in its discussion.
Accounts¶
- Four-function taxonomy of pictures in multimedia testing (decorative, representational, organizational, informational): The review organizes pictures in test items by their functional relationship to the accompanying text, adapting Levin's MML classification. Decorative pictures "can be loosely associated with the item context but do not display task or solution relevant information"; representational pictures represent part or all of task-relevant text content; organizational pictures support the solution procedure by providing visuospatial structure; and informational pictures "depict information that is essential for the solution of the problem." The review uses this taxonomy to classify 62 studies and proposes simplification and extension in its discussion. (Schewior et al. (2024))
Claims¶
- Decorative pictures in test items show no meaningful effect on performance, time on task, or metacognition compared to text-only items [+M]
- Representational pictures tend to increase test performance compared to text-only items [+M]
- Organizational pictures tend to increase test performance compared to text-only items [+M]
- Informational pictures show contradictory effects on performance and time on task across studies [+M]
Related Research Methods¶
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Key Sources¶
- 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
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
research-method |
id |
four-function-taxonomy-of-pictures-in-multimedia-testing-decorative-representational-organ |
title |
Four-function taxonomy of pictures in multimedia testing (decorative, representational, organizational, informational) |
description |
The review organizes pictures in test items by their functional relationship to the accompanying text, adapting Levin's MML classification. |
status |
review |
generated |
by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-21 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
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