The modality effect is a term used in experimental psychology to explain the effect of how information is presented has on memory and learning. Research carried out by Sweller et al in 1988 and Moreno and Mayer in 1999 has shown that memory load is reduced when information is presented in an auditory manner rather than a visual one. Specifically, it has been found that there is an improvement in the recall of the final items in a list when the list was spoken rather than read.
Modality of presentation and its effect on learning has been of interest to psychologists for many years. An early review of the relevant literature by McGeoch in 1942 concluded that there is no modality effect. Later studies, however, support the general view that auditorily presented materials are better recalled than visually presented materials when measuring short-term memory. This applies more to the last four or five items on a list with the middle positions seemingly little affected by the modality effect.