Difference between revisions of "Static vs. Animated Visual Representations for Science Learning (Kaye, Small, Butcher, & Chi)"

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(Independent Variables)
(Independent Variables)
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*Students were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in which they read either both texts with static graphics, both texts with animated graphics, or one text with each type of graphic.  The time spent observing the animation and respective static graphics was equated so that the participant could not move to the next screen until the minimum allotted time had passed.
 
*Students were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in which they read either both texts with static graphics, both texts with animated graphics, or one text with each type of graphic.  The time spent observing the animation and respective static graphics was equated so that the participant could not move to the next screen until the minimum allotted time had passed.
  
#Variable 1: Static vs. Animated Visual Representations
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*Variable 1: Static vs. Animated Visual Representations
 
**This study varied the presentation of animated or static graphics within text presented to the participant (within- and between-participants design).
 
**This study varied the presentation of animated or static graphics within text presented to the participant (within- and between-participants design).
 
**In the animated graphic condition, each participant viewed animated graphics taken from online science tutorial sites.  
 
**In the animated graphic condition, each participant viewed animated graphics taken from online science tutorial sites.  
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#Variable 2: Direct vs. Indirect Processes
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*Variable 2: Direct vs. Indirect Processes
 
**Participants read two texts – one on the circulatory system ([[direct process]]) and one on diffusion ([[indirect process]]).
 
**Participants read two texts – one on the circulatory system ([[direct process]]) and one on diffusion ([[indirect process]]).
 
**A [[direct process]] is defined as one which has an identifiable causal agent and occurs in a sequential, dependent manner.
 
**A [[direct process]] is defined as one which has an identifiable causal agent and occurs in a sequential, dependent manner.

Revision as of 19:17, 25 July 2007

Using Animated and Static Graphics to Scaffold Science Text Comprehension (PSLC Intern Project)

Alyssa D. Kaye, Jenna E. Small, Kirsten R. Butcher, & Michelene T.H. Chi

Summary Table

PI Kirsten R. Butcher
Other Contributers Research Programmers/Associates: Alyssa D. Kaye, Jenna E. Small

Co-Investigator: Michelene T.H. Chi

Study Start Date June 2007
Study End Date July 2007
Number of Students N = 12
Total Participant Hours 24
Study Type Lab Study


Abstract

Graphics are often used in conjunction with texts to facilitate learning, but little is known about what type of graphics are most effective for learning different science content. This experiment sought to understand whether animated or static graphics better promote understanding and for which scientific processes animated graphics may be most beneficial. To test this, each participant read two texts, one representing a more direct scientific process (heart and circulatory system) and one representing a more indirect scientific process (diffusion). Within each text, the participant viewed the corresponding animated or static graphics. During learning, participants saw either animated graphics, static graphics, or one text with each type of graphic. Preliminary results reveal that there were no significant differences between the animated and static graphic conditions for either scientific process.


Glossary


Research Questions

  1. Which type of graphic – animated or static – best facilitates robust learning?
  2. Does the benefit of animation depend upon the type of scientific process - direct or indirect - being depicted?
  3. Is it better for a tutor to provide or for a student to generate motion from visual representations?


Background and Significance

The Coordinative Learning cluster defines coordination as the process of integrating relevant visual and verbal information; visual-verbal coordination is necessary to understand any type of graphic, whether static or animated. There is strong support for a multimedia effect, in which learning from two multimedia sources, or visual-verbal integration, augments memory and comprehension over text alone (Mayer, 2001). Though it is often thought that animated graphics allow for easier coordination, apparent successes of animated graphics over static graphics have resulted from informational inequivalence, interactivity, and other confounds known to promote learning (Tversky, Morrison, & Betrancourt, 2002). In addition, when learners can mentally animate static graphics, animated graphics have been found to be no more effective than the respective static graphics (Hegarty, 2004).

The effectiveness of static and animated graphics may be determined by what scientific processes they convey. Direct processes are defined as those processes which have an identifiable causal agent and occur in a sequential, dependent manner. Indirect processes are defined as those processes which have no causal agent and do not proceed sequentially. Previous research has shown that students have a better understanding of direct processes and often develop robust misconceptions of indirect processes (Chi, in press).

Tverksky et al. (2002) have proposed that graphics are most effective when they conform to the congruence principle, which states that the structure and content of a graphic should correspond to the structure and content of the information being conveyed. Because the circulatory system represents a direct process, both the static and animated graphics conform to the congruence principle. The process of diffusion is an indirect process involving unpredictable, random motion; therefore, the static graphics do not necessarily conform to the congruence principle and thus may be more difficult to mentally animate.

Also under investigation is the assistance dilemma, which refers to the question of what type of information a tutor should provide or withhold in order to promote optimal learning (Koedinger & Aleven, in press). If computer assistance diminishes individual mental effort, then the student may not learn the material as completely as when the student self-generates the information. Providing animations when students are able to mentally animate may reduce comprehension (Hegarty, 2004). However, because indirect processes are often poorly understood by students, it may be difficult to mentally animate these processes. In these cases, animations provided by multimedia sources may promote optimal learning by providing information that the students would be unable to generate on their own.

This research investigates how animated and static graphics compare when other confounds, such as informational inequivalence and interactivity, are removed. The contexts in which animations are most effective for promoting better comprehension are also investigated in this experiment.


Independent Variables

  • Students were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in which they read either both texts with static graphics, both texts with animated graphics, or one text with each type of graphic. The time spent observing the animation and respective static graphics was equated so that the participant could not move to the next screen until the minimum allotted time had passed.
  • Variable 1: Static vs. Animated Visual Representations
    • This study varied the presentation of animated or static graphics within text presented to the participant (within- and between-participants design).
    • In the animated graphic condition, each participant viewed animated graphics taken from online science tutorial sites.
    • In the static graphic condition, each participant viewed six still graphics taken directly from the animations to ensure informational equivalence.

Figure 1. Example Static Graphic: Micro Diffusion 1

Micro1 v2.jpg


Figure 2. Example Static Graphic: Micro Diffusion 3

Micro3 v2.jpg


Figure 3. Example Static Graphic: Micro Diffusion 6

Micro6 v2.jpg


  • Variable 2: Direct vs. Indirect Processes
    • Participants read two texts – one on the circulatory system (direct process) and one on diffusion (indirect process).
    • A direct process is defined as one which has an identifiable causal agent and occurs in a sequential, dependent manner.
      • The circulatory system represents a direct process. For example, deoxygenated blood flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle to the lungs, where it becomes oxygenated.
    • An indirect process is one which has no causal agent and does not proceed sequentially.
      • The process of diffusion represents an indirect process. For example in diffusion, molecules are constantly in random, unpredictable motion, which eventually creates a discernible pattern.


Dependent Variables

  • Robust learning was tested via a pre-test/post-test design, that included retention and transfer items. Students took a pretest prior to learning either test. Each posttest was administered after the learning phase for each topic (e.g. the students completed the circulatory system posttest after the circulatory system text was presented and before the diffusion text was presented).
  • Retention questions tested the acquisition of information explicitly stated in the text. This was measured by standardized gain scores from identical pre- and post-test questions as well as the percentage correct on some of the additional normal post-test questions.
    • Example Retention Question: How many valves are there in the heart and where are they located?


  • Comprehension was defined as the level of understanding gained from the material; this was measured through various types of questions administered during the post-test.
    • Mental model development, immediate: Pre- and post-test participant drawings of the heart and circulatory system were used as a measure of comprehension and understanding.

Figure 4: Example of Student Pre-Test Mental Model Drawing (Single Loop 1)

104 pre mental model drawing v2.jpg


Figure 5: Example of Student Post-Test Mental Model Drawing (Double Loop 2)

104 post mental model drawing v3.jpg


  • Transfer items measured deep, inferential learning. These questions tested acquisition of concepts that were not explicitly stated, and thus needed to be inferred from reading the text or viewing the graphics. The post-test included both single-domain transfer questions and integrated transfer questions. Integrated transfer questions were presented at the end of the diffusion post-test and assessed the participant’s ability to integrate material from both texts and make inferences using that information. This deep, inferential learning was measured by percentage correct on additional post-test questions.
    • Example Single-domain Transfer Question: Some kinds of fish look for food in large groups called schools. Each fish instinctively swims near another fish. Swimming in schools increases the survival rate of the fish as well as the chance of finding food sources. If the process of diffusion is similar to swimming in a school, what role does each fish play in achieving the school?
    • Example Integrated Transfer Question: In the body, the concentrations of oxygen normally is much higher in the blood (outside the cells) than inside the cells and the concentration of carbon dioxide is much higher inside the cells than in the blood. Based on your knowledge of diffusion, explain how cells receive the oxygen they need from the bloodstream and lose harmful carbon dioxide. Be sure to mention how and why the molecules move.
  • Point totals of pre- and post-tests of circulation and diffusion were equated in order to facilitate comparison.


Hypothesis

Because previous research has shown that learners are successful when they can infer motion from static graphics (Hegarty, Kriz, & Cate, 2003), we predict that static graphics will be as effective as animations when mental animation is attainable. Specifically, participants should be able to mentally animate the statics of a direct process such as the circulatory system because the static graphics conform to the congruence principle (Tversky et al., 2002). As a result, we hypothesize that there will be no significant difference between animated and static graphics for direct processes. However, diffusion, an indirect process, may be more difficult to mentally animate because the static graphics do not necessarily conform to the congruence principle. Therefore, animated graphics should improve comprehension of the process of diffusion. If animated graphics better support learning than static graphics for an indirect process, this research would demonstrate when computer assistance may be necessary for easing the coordination of visual and verbal information.

In summary, we predict that there will be no significant difference between the animated and static graphics for the circulatory system text, but a significant difference between the animated and static graphics for the diffusion text, favoring the animated graphic condition.


Findings

Though there were significant learning gains for the circulatory system, as shown by the difference in pre- to post-test scores and mental model assessments (p < .001), there were no significant differences between the animated and static conditions for retention, transfer, or critique assessments in this domain (all Fs < 1). In accordance with our hypothesis, these results reveal no significant differences between the animated and static graphic conditions for all circulatory system assessments. For a direct process such as the circulatory system, animated graphics appear to be no more effective than mentally animating from informationally equivalent static graphics.

For the process of diffusion, there were also significant learning gains, as shown by the difference in pre- to post-test scores (p < .001), but there were no significant differences between the animated and static conditions for retention, transfer, or critique assessments in this domain (all Fs < 1). The pattern of results for the transfer scores of the diffusion text revealed that static graphics may be more beneficial, but this pattern did not reach statistical significance (p = .126). If the observed pattern continues, this may reveal that static graphics promote robust learning of the process of diffusion, demonstrating that static graphics may be more effective than animated graphics for learning indirect processes. Indirect processes may be less difficult to mentally animate than first predicted.

All results are preliminary, as only 12 students have participated in the experiment thus far. The experiment will continue through Fall 2007. Future research will continue to investigate the effectiveness of animated and static graphics, specifically investigating in which domains animated or static graphics are most beneficial. Future research may also include additional measures of robust learning, such as long-term retention.


Explanation

This experiment examines the integration of knowledge components from visual and verbal information. In particular, the experiment assesses the path effects of learning from texts with different types of graphics. We are investigating whether animated or static graphics encourage students to employ more successful deep learning paths during the learning event and which type of graphic better promotes robust learning. Furthermore, we are examining whether the effectiveness of each type of graphic differs according to the scientific process portrayed.


Descendents


Further Information