Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: ABSTRACT \nTHE INFLUENCE OF THEMATIC DISPLAYS ON THE \nCOMPREHENSION OF TEXT \nby \nWilliam Battinich \nMaster of Arts in Psychology \nPsychological Science Option \nCalifornia State University, Chico \nSpring 2009 \nThe current investigation was designed to examine whether decorative \ngraphics can function as thematic displays and whether these displays can influence \nlearners?? comprehension of textual material. Learners were presented with a text describing \nthe positive and negative aspects of romantic relationship with or without an \naccompanying thematic display. Some researchers have suggested that decorative \ngraphics do not improve the recall of text nor increase the quality of learning outcomes. \nHowever, our results suggest that decorative graphics can act as thematic displays and \nalso influence comprehension processes involved with the both the graphic and text. \nOur results demonstrate that thematic displays can activate a learner?? s schema of a \ntopic, thereby creating noticeable differences in the type of prior knowledge they bring \nto mind while processing textual material. Furthermore, the type of prior knowledge \nviii \nthat the learners incorporated into their essays about romantic relationships was distinctly \ndifferent depending on which thematic display was viewed.
Author: William Ray Battinich
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2232592934