7.3. Conclusion
Our research has begun to investigate the questions of whether the design of multimedia learning material affects learners’ emotional states, and how these emotions affect complex learning processes. The investigations can be seen as a response to current discussions in multimedia learning research (e.g., Um et al.,
2012). The experimental design of our study was generally in line with the design of the previous studies into emotional design in multimedia learning (Plass et al., 2014; Um et al., 2012). Whereas the previous studies successfully provided initial evidence that an emotional design matters in terms of emotion induction and learning effectiveness, the current study aimed to produce a more differentiated view on these effects. We first systematically derived possible emotional design features, refraining from external emotion induction (due to possible confounds) and looking at positive and negative emotional states and their effects on different learning goals (retention, comprehension, transfer). Thus, the results revealed a much more complex picture than the previous studies. In conclusion, a differentiation of the possible effects is necessary, but also requires more differentiated research designs. Future studies into emotional design in multimedia learning should there- fore separate the two research questions. On the one hand, studies are needed that identify intrinsic emotional design features that are successful in inducing positive and negative emotional states in learners. On the other hand, studies focusing on the effects of positive and negative emotions on complex learning may for now externally induce the desired emotional states and investigate their effects. A combined approach of internally inducing emotional states and studying their effects may be the next step.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the German Science Foundation (DFG) for the support of this work through Project DO 1237/3-1. We would further like to thank Ralf Rummer, Judith Schweppe, and Helmut Niegemann for their valuable comments during the research process and on earlier versions of this manuscript.