Visualization and TV news information gain

Multiple effects of visual format on TV news learning

“…Edwardson et al (1976) found no benefit of film using apparently less interesting film to accompany a local news than Edwardson et al (1981). Negative effects of film were found in a series of studies by Gunter and co-workers (Gunter, Furnham, and Gietson, 1984;Furnham and Gunter, 1985;Gunter and Furnham, 1986;Furnham and Gunter, 1987) using a test sequence taken from an experimental broadcast by satellite.…”

“…These authors cited a number of laboratory findings with simulated or actual bulletins which showed better probed recall of detailed verbal information with still or film pictures than with none (Findahl, 1971;Stauffer, Frost and Rybolt, 1981) or with a 'talking head' (Findahl, 1981;Renckstorf, 1980;Edwardson, Grooms, and Proudlove, 1981). Although Edwardson, Grooms, and Pringle (1976), Sanders (1977), and Gunter (1980) had reported no visual format effects, no studies had shown worse learning with 'enriched' picture forms than with sound-only or 'talking head'. Subsequent evidence has tended to cloud the picture again.…”

Television news information gain: Videotex versus a talking head

“…Most viewers report that they are occupied with some activity during the evening news (Edwardson, Grooms, & Pringle, 1976); they can absorb a little information from the audio with an occasional glance at the screen. With videotex, the audio is no help at all.…”

A Dual Effect of Pictorial Enrichment in Learning from Television News: Gunter's data revisited

“…It has, therefore, been a source of frustration that experimental studies aimed at demonstrating a relationship between information gain from texts and the associated visualisation format have proved inconsistent and conflicting (cf. Jorgenson, 1955;Hazard, 1963;Edwardson, Grooms & Pringle, 1976;Sanders, 1977).…”