Martin Merkt, Sabrina Lux, Vincent Hoogerheide, Tamara van Gog, Stephan Schwan
Two experiments investigated the effects of an instructional video’s setting on learners’ retention and application of the video content. Experiment 1 explored competing hypotheses based on theoretical assumptions about whether an authentic setting would serve as a distraction or as a cue for the instructor’s expertise. Participants (N = 59) watched a video about floral diagrams and floral formulas that was either shot in a greenhouse (authentic setting) or in front of a white wall (neutral setting). Results showed a beneficial effect of the authentic setting on retention, but not on the application of the video content. Experiment 2 aimed to replicate and extend these findings by investigating whether reinstating the authentic setting as a contextual cue during the test phase would further improve test performance. After watching a video that was either shot in an authentic or a neutral setting, participants (N = 149) worked on the retention and application test while a screenshot of the authentic or the neutral setting was presented as a background. Contrary to our expectations, the effect of setting on retention did not replicate and there was no evidence for context effects, despite using the same learning materials and a comparable sample as in Experiment 1. Findings are discussed with regard to potential boundary conditions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)