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16 - The Redundancy Principle in Multimedia Learning

from Part IV - Principles for Reducing Extraneous Processing in Multimedia Learning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 November 2021

Richard E. Mayer
Affiliation:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Logan Fiorella
Affiliation:
University of Georgia
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Summary

The redundancy principle (or redundancy effect) suggests that redundant material interferes with rather than facilitates learning. Redundancy is broadly defined as any unnecessary information including irrelevant information, the same information presented concurrently in multiple forms or in unnecessarily elaborated form. According to cognitive load theory, processing redundant information with essential information increases working memory load which may interfere with learning. Eliminating such redundant information removes the requirement to process unnecessary sources of information. Accordingly, instructional designs that eliminate redundant material can be superior to those that include redundancy. This chapter summarizes research and theory concerned with the effect of processing redundant information in multimedia learning, a history of research in instructional redundancy, the conditions of applicability of this principle, and its instructional implications.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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