Effects of Animation on Multi-Level Learning Outcomes for Learners with Different Characteristics: A Meta-Analytic Assessment and Interpretation

Abstract This meta-analytic research assesses the effectiveness of animation in facilitating multi-level learning (factual knowledge, comprehension, and application) by summarizing the findings of 34 published experimental studies that involved 13,515 participants. All studies compared animation with static graphics in an instructional setting. Two hundred eighty one effect sizes were generated. Results indicated that generally animation has a small positive effect on facilitating multi-level learning. Results also indicated that animation is not equally effective for different levels of learning. This study provides the foundation for hypothesis generation related to future design and development and the instructional use of animations.

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