Simplified user interfaces (SUIs) refer to a new design technique in technical communication that simplifies screenshots by removing irrelevant elements and highlighting only the essential information. While there is consensus on the benefits of signaling in multimedia learning, there is currently no empirical evidence on the effects of SUIs on user performance. This study reports an eye-tracking experiment that examined whether users can work more effectively and efficiently with a software tutorial containing SUIs instead of unedited pictures without signaling or pictures using conventional signaling techniques. The study also aimed to clarify whether SUIs draw user attention to relevant areas of a picture. Eye tracking and performance measures indicate that SUIs draw user attention successfully, but do not improve user performance compared to unedited screenshot in a tutorial scenario. The results contribute to the question of whether design principles of multimedia learning can be successfully transferred to action-oriented texts.
AlexanderK.SchubertA.MengM. (2016). Does detail matter? The effect of visual detail in line drawings on task execution. Information Design Journal, 22(1), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.22.1.05ale
2.
AlpizarD.AdesopeO. O.WongR. M. (2020). A meta-analysis of signaling principle in multimedia learning environments. Educational Technology Research and Development, 68, 2095–2119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-020-09748-7
3.
BaayenR. H.DavidsonD. J.BatesD. M. (2008). Mixed-effects modeling with crossed random effects for subjects and items. Journal of Memory and Language, 59(4), 390–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2007.12.005
4.
BatesD.MächlerM.BolkerB.WalkerS. (2015). Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4. Journal of Statistical Software, 67(1), 1–48. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v067.i01
BrehmL.AldayP. M. (2022). Contrast coding choices in a decade of mixed models. Journal of Memory and Language, 125, 104334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2022.104334
9.
BrownV. A. (2021). An introduction to linear mixed-effects modeling in R. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 4(1), 251524592096035. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515245920960351
10.
CarrollJ. M. (1990). The Nurnberg funnel: Designing minimalist instruction for practical computer skill. MIT Press.
11.
ChampelyS.EkstromC.DalgaardP.GillJ.WeibelzahlS.AnandkumarA.FordC.VolcicR.De RosarioH. (2017). pwr: Basic functions for power analysis. Software https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/pwr/
FaulF.ErdfelderE.LangA. G.BuchnerA. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39(2), 175–191. https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03193146
14.
GellevijM.van der MeijH. (2002). Screen captures to support switching attention. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 45(2), 115–122. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPC.2002.1003694
15.
GellevijM.van der MeijH. (2004). Empirical proof for presenting screen captures in software documentation. Technical Communication, 51(2), 224–238.
16.
IrrazabalN.BurinD. (2021). Effects of emotional valence and arousal on comprehension and assembly of instructions. Trends in Psychology, 29, 104–122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-020-00057-9
17.
IrrazabalN.SauxG.BurinD. (2016). Procedural multimedia presentations: The effect of working memory and task complexity on instruction time and assembly accuracy. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 30(6), 1052–1060. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3299
18.
KalyugaS.ChandlerP.SwellerJ. (1998). Levels of expertise in instructional design. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 40, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1518/001872098779480587
19.
KalyugaS.ChandlerP.SwellerJ. (2000). Incorporating learner expertise into the design of multimedia instruction. Journal of Educational Psychology, 92, 126–136. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.92.1.126
20.
MayerR. (2021). Multimedia learning (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
21.
MayerR. E.GalliniJ. K. (1990). When is an illustration worth ten thousand words?Journal of Educational Psychology, 82, 715–726. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.82.4.715
22.
MengM. (2019). Effects of visual signaling in screenshots: An eye tracking study. Technical Communication, 66(4), 396–411.
23.
MengM. (2023). Using eye tracking to study information selection and use in procedures. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 66(1), 7–25. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPC.2022.3228021
24.
R Core Team. (2023). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing.
25.
RedishJ. C. (1989). Reading to learn to do. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 32(4), 289–293. https://doi.org/10.1109/47.44542
26.
R Studio Team. (2023). RStudio: Integrated development environment for R. RStudio PBC.
27.
SchumacherP. (2007). Creating effective illustrations for pictorial assembly instructions. Information Design Journal, 15(2), 97–109. https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.15.2.01sch
28.
SungE.MayerR. E. (2012). When graphics improve liking but not learning from online lessons. Computers in Human Behavior, 28, 1618–1625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.03.026
van der MeijH.GellevijM. (1998). Screen captures in software documentation. Technical Communication, 45(4), 529–543.
33.
van GenuchtenE.van HooijdonkC.SchülerA.ScheiterK. (2014). The role of working memory when “learning how” with multimedia learning material. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 28(3), 327–335. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.2998
34.
WinterB. (2020). Statistics for linguists: An introduction using R. Routledge.
