How Do Visual Design Elements in Multimedia Learning Material Induce Positive Emotions in Learners?

Abstract

Previous research into multimedia learning has mainly focused on cognitive factors to investigate different instructional conditions and design principles. Emotional aspects have so far been widely neglected. This study investigates how the cheerful emotional interface design influenced learners’ cognitive processes, emotional valences, learning outcomes, and subjective experience. This study used the PRISMA statement to identify the major themes from the literature. Following the strict inclusion and exclusion criteria for selecting records, we identified 47 articles for the analysis. This study used the VOS viewer for the themes using the content analysis and key term occurrences. The result shows two significant pieces, cognitive outcomes and affective outcomes, further divided into cognitive processes, emotional valences, learning outcomes, and subjective experience. In addition, the findings showed that learners using the cheerful emotional design had more positive emotions and higher comprehension and transfer test scores. Furthermore, learners who received the cheerful emotional design saw the materials as less challenging and expended more mental effort digesting them than learners who received the neutral design. They reported better motivation, contentment, and perception of the learning materials.