Recency Effect on Problem Solving in Interactive Multimedia Learning

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of recency effect on multiple rule-based problem solving in an interactive multimedia environment. Forty-five college students were recruited and assigned to two groups: synchronized and unsynchronized interactive multimedia groups based on their spatial ability score. Results show that students in the synchronized interactive multimedia group outperformed their counterparts in the unsynchronized interactive multimedia group in terms of response time and test scores. Results also indicated that low spatial ability learners in the synchronized interactive multimedia showed an improvement in problem solving.