The document discusses two theories related to including interesting but irrelevant details in instructional materials: 1) The coherence principle suggests that extraneous words, pictures, sounds should be excluded as they direct learner attention away from relevant materials and hurt learning. 2) In contrast, arousal theory posits that some interesting but irrelevant materials can catch learner attention and increase emotional arousal, enhancing overall learning. However, research shows less is more and excess materials may overload working memory.

1. Chapter 5
Coherence Principle

2. • People learn better when interesting, but relevant details are excluded rather
than included in the instructional materials.
• People learn better when interesting, but irrelevant sounds and music are
excluded from the instructional materials.
• Extraneous words, pictures, and sounds should be excluded.
• Example a presentation on the water cycle would not need graphics that
relates to the muscular system.

3. • Seductive Details are used to add interesting, but irrelevant material to a passage in
order to spice it up and adds interest for the reader.
• The reader determines that the seductive details are entertaining and interesting.
• The presence of seductive details may direct the learner’s attention away from the
relevant material.
• According to the cognitive theory of multimedia learning, adding seductive details will
result in poorer performance on tests of transfer of knowledge.

4. • Arousal Theory
• the idea that students learn better when they are
emotionally aroused by the material.
• According to the arousal theory, adding interesting but
irrelevant material catches the reader’s attention so that
they pay more attention and learn more overall.
• In the case of adding interesting words and pictures, prior
research shows that less is more. Less material can
provide greater comprehension of presented material.
• Students with low working memory capacity will spend
more time focused on the graphics than on students with
high working memory

5. • Based on the arousal theory
• According to the theory, this addition makes the
instructional materials more enjoyable for the
learner, which raises the learner’s level of emotional
arousal.
• The cognitive theory of multimedia learning predicts a
coherence effect in which adding interesting
materials, such as music and sounds, hurts student
learning.